On "bubbly" structures in plasma facing components

SI Krasheninnikov and RD Smirnov, JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS, 438, S861-S864 (2013).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.01.186

The theoretical model of "fuzz'' growth describing the main features observed in experiments is discussed. This model is based on the assumption of enhancement of plasticity of tungsten containing significant fraction of helium atoms and clusters. The results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations support this idea and demonstrate strong reduction of the yield strength for all temperature range. The MD simulations also show that the "flow'' of tungsten strongly facilitates coagulation of helium clusters, which otherwise practically immobile, and the formation of nano-bubbles. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Return to Publications page