Highlights 2011

Research news from the division Plasma Edge and Wall

Successful organization “13th International Workshop on Plasma-Facing Materials and Components for Fusion Applications / 1st International Conference on Fusion Energy Materials Science”
(13.05.2011)

One of the most important conferences in the field of plasma-loaded materials for the first wall of fusion devices was held in Rosenheim from 9 – 13 May. The conference, organized by E2M, was at the same time an event of the EU project FEMaS - Fusion Energy Materials Science, which has as a primary goal the integration of new characterization methods  for fusion materials into the international community of fusion materials researchers. The first day of the conference was dedicated to eight tutorial talks, aiming at an overview on plasma-material interaction, both for newcomers to the field, but traditionally also appreciated by old-stagers. The subjects ranged from basic processes of plasma-wall interaction through radiation effects in fusion materials and component test procedures, to the construction of components for the first wall of ITER. And for the first time topics of materials characterization were also a key aspect: modern methods of materials characterization with synchrotron and neutron sources, latest techniques of transmission electron microscopy as well as micro-mechanical test methods and analyzing techniques specially adjusted to first wall material.

With more than 280 participants the conference reached the best turnout ever. In 35 plenary talks current developments in the focal topics of wall materials and components were presented. The subjects ranged from “Diagnostics and Dust”, “First Wall Research at JET”, “Hydrogen Retention” and “Impurity Transport” through “Beryllium as First Wall Material” and “Tungsten under High Heat Loads” to “New Materials Concepts” and “Advanced Characterization Techniques”. In addition to that about 200 posters were presented in Rosenheim. The proceedings of the conference will be published as a special issue of Physica Scripta with more than 80, released papers still in 2011. Due to the continuously increasing numbers of participants at the conference it was renamed. The next “International CONFERENCE on Plasma-facing Materials and Components” will be held at the Forschungszentrum Jülich in spring 2013. From now on Wolfgang Jacob and Christian Linsmeier will be program committee members representing the IPP.