Tungsten may suffer more radiation damage in fusion reactors than expected
Fusion reactors, devices that generate energy by fusing light atomic nuclei at extremely high temperatures, could contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at producing electricity more sustainably. The extreme environment inside these devices, however, can damage materials that surround the superheated, electrically charged plasma where the nuclear fusion reaction takes place.
Fusion reactors, which generate energy through nuclear fusion, face challenges from material damage in their extreme environments. Researchers at the University of Helsinki conducted simulations to study how tungsten, a promising material for reactor components, is affected by high-energy irradiation. Their findings, published in Physical Review Letters, reveal that tungsten's damage patterns differ from previously assumed trends.
Unlike traditional models predicting sublinear to linear damage accumulation, tungsten exhibits a transition from sublinear to superlinear damage, then to linear damage at extremely high energies. This means the material may accumulate more defects than expected under fusion reactor conditions, potentially reducing component lifespans.
The study's billion-atom simulations demonstrate the feasibility and value of accurately modeling such complex systems, offering improved predictions for radiation damage in fusion materials.
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