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In a world increasingly facing new challenges at the forefront of plasma scientific research and technological innovation, CNR and ISTP pledge progress and achieve an impact in the integration of research into societal practices and policy

WP-7: Laboratory for the study of fusion relevant high-density plasmas and material interactions

 

RESEARCH UNIT: ISTP-Milano
WP LEADER: ANDREA UCCELLO

The project deals with the upgrade of the linear plasma device GyM of ISTP-CNR-Milan, “BiGyM”, for the production of a high-density plasma and a deep characterization of plasma-material interaction (PMI). The upgrade will allow ISTP-CNR to reach a higher level of competitiveness in the field of magnetic confinement fusion, thus strengthening the link with Horizon Europe 2021-2027, and to start brand-new research lines in other technological sectors like aerospace, steel manufacturing, solar collectors, fuel cells, catalysis and sensors. Moreover, and most importantly here, BiGyM will support and complement the plasma-wall interaction (PWI) experimental program of RFX-mod2. It will also contribute to the educational and training of young researchers in view of DTT, the Divertor Tokamak Test.

GOALS

This work-package includes three main activities:

  • Procurement of 15 kW steady-state helicon source at 13.56 MHz, together with a 1 T superconducting magnet, to obtain a plasma density of 1019 m-3 and an ion flux of 1023 m-2 s-1. Radiofrequency sources, unlike the more commonly used arc ones, allow to produce quasi-maxweillian plasmas with a low impurity content;
  • Acquisition of a new sample exposure system for PMI experiments. It will actively heat the samples up to 1500 K, i.e. the operational temperature of ITER divertor plasma facing components (PFCs), and will allow to provide a negative bias voltage down to -500 V to the samples, to tune incident ions energy;
  • Acquisition of a state-of-the-art picosecond laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), developed in collaboration with ISTP-CNR-Bari, to study the effects of the plasma on the exposed samples.  

Background

The upgrade will allow ISTP-CNR to reach a higher level of competitiveness in the field of magnetic confinement fusion, thus strengthening the link with Horizon Europe 2021-2027, and to start brand-new research lines in other technological sectors like aerospace, steel manufacturing, solar collectors, fuel cells, catalysis and sensors. Moreover, and most importantly here, BiGyM will support and complement the plasma-wall interaction (PWI) experimental program of RFX-mod2. It will also contribute to the educational and training of young researchers in view of DTT, the Divertor Tokamak Test.

DISCOVER MORE

CONTACTS

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION:
comunicazione@istp.cnr.it

WP Leader:
andrea.uccello@istp.cnr.it

WP TIMELINE

PHASE 1

Instrumentation for production of BiGyM high-density plasma

PHASE 2

New BiGyM sample exposure system

PHASE 3

Upgrade of BiGyM diagnostic system

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