Study of interactions of pulsed plasmas with standard and lithium-treated materials

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General Fusion is developing the technological and physics base to enable a breakeven Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) demonstration. The approach being pursued by General Fusion has the potential to yield the first economically viable fusion reactor, leading to commercialization and widespread use of fusion energy on a much more rapid timeline than any other route currently being considered. General Fusion's Magnetized Target Fusion system uses a sphere, filled with molten lead-lithium that is pumped to form a vortex. On each pulse, magnetically-confined plasma is injected into the vortex. Around the sphere, an array of pistons impact and drive a pressure wave into the centre of the sphere, compressing the plasma to fusion conditions. Many of the technical milestones, needed to be met by General Fusion, focus on the quality of the plasmas to be used in the final compression stage of its reactor concept. Progress has been made towards meeting the stringent requirements on plasma density, temperature and thermal lifetime. The General Fusion team of PhDs in plasma physics has made great strides in meeting these milestones but seeks to benefit from plasma research around the globe. In particular General Fusion seeks to benefit from the longstanding expertise in experimental plasma physics represented by the team at the University of Saskatchewan. In the first phase of the project, which is already underway, the USCTI (University of Saskatchewan Compact Torus Injector) is being used to study the effects of the high heat loads associated with high power-density plasmas on plasma facing materials such as tungsten and tungsten-coated aluminum. The second phase will focus both on the effects of lithium coated surfaces on these plasmas, and vice versa. Large improvements in plasma lifetime have recently been achieved at General Fusion by controlling the recycling of hydrogen isotopes from the walls surrounding the plasma discharge. This has been achieved through the use of thin coatings of either titanium or lithium. Layers of such well known 'gettering' materials are known to lower hydrogenic recycling and to have dramatically improved plasma performance in many magnetic-fusion devices.