Research Needs for Magnetic Fusion Energy Sciences - US Burning ...

proximity-coil-based magnetics is ~13 weeks, and that the successful use of optical first
mirrors must at present be judged improbable.
• R&D in engineering instrumentation for monitoring in severe nuclear environment, for
detectors, and for window materials — With regard to engineering instrumentation,
monitoring must include (at a minimum) confirmation that the first wall and blanket
are functioning as desired. With the probable loss of optical monitoring capability, this
diagnostic development effort might include work for deployment of “smart tiles,”
robust instrumentation for plasma facing components (PFcs), blanket modules, and
in-vessel components. This research requirement emphasizes the need for a critical set
of capabilities in fusion nuclear technology that needs to be in place to proceed further.
Progress in this area will occur through a well-integrated program of computational
models and well-instrumented benchmark experiments.
• Research to address problems of sensor proximity — how close must a sensor be to fulfill the
measurement requirement? This research need is closely coupled to the research outlined
in the next bullet.
• Research to develop creative, robust diagnostic techniques driven by the need for robust
measurement systems and low-risk diagnostic-plasma interfaces — novel techniques or
approaches that have a high probability for extrapolation to a component test Facility
(ctF) or demo would be fostered in this area.
• Research and development for in situ calibration techniques for probable measurement systems.
• Research and development for calibration techniques that can be performed during
plasma (deuterium-tritium [d-t] burn) operations.
Research Opportunity – Development of the necessary degree of real-time interpretation
and analysis of measurements. This research opportunity is covered in the “diagnosing a
self-heated plasma” section of Theme 1. additionally we note that the control sensor signals and
measurement analyses for the control system must be processed in real time. The control sensors
will have to be extremely reliable and long-lived. Furthermore, as discussed later in this Theme,
the acceptable frequency for transient events is reduced considerably for demo-like plasmas as
compared to iteR, with greater emphasis on reliability and complete suppression.
time scales for research and observations concerning facilities and testing. because of the
long lead times for solutions to these challenges, we believe work on them should begin as soon as
possible. it is also important to point out that in burning plasma devices and in facilities that would
serve as test beds for burning plasma diagnostics, planning for measurements must be an integral
“zeroth–order” part of the device design. diagnostics cannot be approached as “add-ons” in these
devices. an adequate facility for testing environmental effects, steady-state, reliability, and calibration
issues is important for a number of research elements listed here. access to facilities and runtime
for testing are needed in order:
• to test new diagnostic techniques.
• to mitigate environmental effects.
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