Methodology for conducting high-temperature tests of tin-lithium CPS under deuterium plasma irradiation conditions

Abstract Capillary-Porous Systems (CPS) based on liquid metals (Lithium, Tin, Gallium) are materials with highly developed porous structures, possessing unique properties such as high heat and mass transfer capabilities, as well as the ability to effectively manage fluid flows under elevated temperature conditions. In recent years, the potential application of CPS in plasma-physical installations, including fusion reactors (FR), has been actively studied, where these materials can play an important role in various aspects of reactor operation, including heat exchange, plasma control, and maintaining stable conditions in the discharge chamber. Despite the great potential of CPS for use in nuclear fusion reactors, there are technical challenges related to selecting optimal materials, their durability under plasma disruption conditions, and their ability to withstand high thermal and radiation loads. The idea of using a tin-lithium alloy as a plasma-facing material (PFM) has emerged relatively recently, and therefore, experimental data on the interaction of the alloy with plasma are quite limited. Hence, further research in this area is required to fully reveal the potential of the tin-lithium CPS as a plasma-facing material. This paper presents the results of the development of a methodology for conducting tests of the tin-lithium CPS under deuterium plasma irradiation conditions.