IRRADIATION OF SINTERED TUNGSTEN SAMPLES WITH COMBINED HELIUM ION BEAM AND HIGH-HEAT FLUXES OF QSPA HYDROGEN PLASMA

The synergistic effects of tungsten exposure to combined hydrogen and helium particle fluxes need to be extensively studied for the realization of a fusion reactor project. Sintered tungsten samples were irradiated with hydrogen plasma generated by the Quasi-Stationary Plasma Accelerator (QSPA) and with a helium (He) ion beam. The irradiation with He ions of 4 MeV resulted in the formation of compressive residual stresses and an increase in the number of dislocations. In contrast, the development of residual tensile stresses and cracks on the sample surface was identified as the main feature of the QSPA pulsed hydrogen plasma exposure with heat load above the tungsten melting threshold. Combined irradiation with He ions and QSPA hydrogen plasma led to the formation of both macro- and microcrack networks, accompanied by the relaxation of residual stresses on the exposed surfaces.