The device
The Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) is a next-generation linear plasma device that will support the study of the way plasma will interact long-term with the components of future fusion reactors—in particular, the divertor, the power and particle “exhaust system” of a fusion reactor.
MPEX’s design represents a shift from the historical direction of the plasma-material interaction field, which for many years focused on the effect that materials had on plasma, but not on the effect that plasma had on materials.
Below is a list of MPEX’s parameters and performance goals:
|
Parameter |
MPG |
| Electron density at the target (ne) |
Up to 2 × 1021 m-3 |
| Temperature of electrons at the target (Te) |
Up to 15 eV |
| Ion temperature at the target (Ti) |
Up to 20 eV |
| Magnetic field at the target (B) |
1 T |
| Plasma diameter |
3–10 cm |
| Ion flux at the target (Gi) |
>1024 m-2s-1 |
| Minimum angle of B to target |
5° |
| Power flux (q), parallel |
Up to 40 MW/m2 |
| q, perpendicular |
10 MW/m2 |
| Total ion fluence |
Up to 1031 m-2 |