The PhD work concerns experimental studies of plasma cleaning of so-called first mirrors for future fusion facilities, such as ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). First mirrors will play a crucial role in numerous ITER optical diagnostic systems. Deposition of material eroded from the wall of ITER can degrade the reflectivity of the first mirrors severely. Plasma cleaning using radio-frequency capacitively coupled plasmas is currently being considered as the most promising in-situ cleaning technique. The PhD work will mainly be focused on three different aspects of plasma cleaning for ITER first mirrors:
– Investigation on plasma cleaning in magnetic fields, benchmarked with simulations.
– Development of End of Cleaning Indicator (monitoring of the process).
– Research on driven grounded electrode plasma discharges.
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