Erlangen 2026 – scientific programme

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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik

P 17: Plasma Wall Interaction II

P 17.1: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 19, 2026, 16:15–16:45, KH 02.016

Energetic proton damage for simulating fusion relevant neutron damage on reactor materials — •Rahul Rayaprolu — Forshungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

As fusion research progresses from experimental devices to reactors, it is imperative to comprehend the effects of fusion neutron damage and its impact on plasma-facing materials (PFMs). At present, the study of neutron damage is predominantly conducted through the use of fission reactors, which exhibit a distinct neutron-energy flux spectrum. Hence, the fission neutron damage leads damage ingrowth as compared to that of a fusion reactor. Ion irradiation is a well-established method and is frequently used as a surrogate for neutron damage. It is a more accessible method than nuclear reactors and simultaneously offers superior control over experimental conditions. Until recently, the focus has been on the use of heavy ions to replicate the displacement effects of neutron damage on the PFMs lattice. However, the heavy-ion irradiation method has a very shallow damage depth and is unable to take macroscopic effects into consideration. Energetic protons offer a solution and have been shown to deliver damage in depths ranging from 500 um to 1 mm. They produce a combination of displacement and nuclear-transmutation damage that is comparable to fusion neutrons. However, the irradiated area is constrained to the beam spot size, and the samples like fission irradiations are radioactive. In the absence of a fusion neutron source, this method can be used to study the development and influence of fusion relevant neutron damage in PFMs.

Keywords: Neutron damage; Proton irradiation; Material degradation; Ion damage; Plasma facing materials