Dr. Daniel Andruczyk
Hybrid Illinois Device for Research and Applications (HIDRA)
Center for Plasma Material Interactions (CPMI)
Department of Nuclear Plasma and Radiological Engineering (NPRE)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
"Fusion and Liquid Metal Activities at the University of Illinois"
Abstract: One of the major challenges facing fusion is that current material solutions for the first wall and divertor are not sufficient in handling the heat loads that will be generated by the plasma. Transient events not only can be catastrophic for the surfaces but also for the plasma itself. One class of materials that is being touted as a solution is liquid metals, in particular lithium. Liquid lithium offers many unique solutions to problems being faced in fusion but also provides its own unique set of issues. In this talk I will walk through the benefits of using lithium in fusion devices and also show the work being currently being undertaken at the center for plasma material interactions (CPMI) as well as discuss the future of PMI research in Illinois using the hybrid Illinois device for research and applications (HIDRA) which has recently been assembled.
