Abstract
There are several challenges to implementing thermonuclear fusion. Some of these problems are related to the interaction of the plasma with the first wall and divertor materials [1, 2]. The purpose of this work is an experimental study of tungsten erosion under the influence of a pulsed plasma flow generated by a PW-7 coaxial plasma accelerator [3]. The results of EDS analysis of the target surface after irradiation show that the formation of bubbles is observed in areas contaminated with metal impurities. In addition, the effect of a plasma flow on the surface led to the appearance of defects such as cracks and craters on the target surface. The width of the cracks is 100-300 nm and depends on the temperature of the target before plasma exposure [4]. This dependence is associated with controlling the temperature gradient of the target surface and reducing internal stresses in the material. Tungsten, despite its strength, is also highly brittle, which leads to cracking when exposed to repeated plasma. A recent study of the various surface and structural properties of boron carbide and pyrolytic boron nitride under the influence of pulsed plasma flow showed that these materials do not undergo significant mechanical damage and have a relatively low degree of sputtering [5]. Further research is planned to study the possibility of dust formation when exposed to a pulsed plasma flow on targets made of boron and materials based on it. It is also planned to analyze the surface and structural properties of the target in order to determine the influence of radiation and thermal loads at different plasma flow energy densities.