Lithium Vapor Shielding in a Neutrally Seeded Environment

Dealing with the large heat and particle fluxes in the divertor regions of magnetic fusion devices is a challenge plasma facing components (PFCs) need to overcome. Liquid metals have recently gained in popularity as alternatives to solid PFCs, with lithium (Li) a promising candidate that both reduces the plasma energy losses and improves its performance. Previous experiments by Rindt et al. were conducted on Magnum-PSI at DIFFER to better understand the effect of vapor shielding and the power handling limit of liquid Li PFCs. However, they were carried out with no neutral seeding, which will be necessary in fusion devices to diffuse the energy in the divertor region and reduce the heat flux to the divertor from 100 MW to around 30 MW. Hence, as a continuation of the previous work done by the DIFFER team, new experiments are planned on Magnum-PSI in July 2020 to expose Li targets to a hydrogen (H) plasma with and without neon seeding. The effect of the seeding on the power handling limit of the targets as well as on the H retention by Li will be studied and the outcomes presented.