Ion beam analysis of fusion plasma-facing materials and components: facilities and research challenges

TLDR

Analysis of beryllium and radioactive samples from future JET or ITER experiments poses significant analytical and technical challenges. The paper reviews the current status of ion beam analysis techniques and ion‑induced radiation damage in fusion‑relevant materials, following the IAEA Technical Meeting. The review catalogs existing facilities, their analytical capabilities, and detailed lab descriptions, and discusses future sample‑handling issues and the status of JET facilities. The paper presents available facilities, apparatus development, future research options, and challenges.

Abstract

Following the IAEA Technical Meeting on 'Advanced Methodologies for the Analysis of Materials in Energy Applications Using Ion Beam Accelerators', this paper reviews the current status of ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques and some aspects of ion-induced radiation damage in materials for the field of materials relevant to fusion. Available facilities, apparatus development, future research options and challenges are presented and discussed. The analysis of beryllium and radioactivity-containing samples from future experiments in JET or ITER represents not only an analytical but also a technical challenge. A comprehensive list of the facilities, their current status, and analytical capabilities comes alongside detailed descriptions of the labs. A discussion of future issues of sample handling and the current status of facilities at JET complete the technical section.