Simultaneous irradiation and thermal loads on proton irradiated tungsten

Ions are used to simulate, accelerated-irradiation damage in materials. Most studies focus on displacement damage using self-ions or low-energy protons. Energetic protons between 16 – 30 MeV have the ability to induce combined-displacement and transmutation damage, over macroscopic ranges of 300 – 500 µm in tungsten. However the samples are radioactive post irradiation and radiation protection measures must be followed.Additionally, electronic losses from ions are converted into heat, which form steady state heat loads on the sample. For 16 MeV protons with 10 µA current on a 10 mm diameter sample, the heat loads amounts to ~2 MW/m2. This is simultaneously inflicted on the sample alongside irradiation damage.Pilot irradiations on tungsten have been performed to doses of 0.006 dpa and further analysed with scanning electron microscopy and instrumented indentation. The hardness results are compared against self-ion irradiation, 3 MeV proton irradiation and show similar radiation hardening increase. Transmutation estimates using FISPACT-II were compared against gamma spectroscopy results.The irradiation ideology, methodology and post irradiation results will be detailed and explained in the presentation.