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In the first two weeks of July 2022, a delegation of researchers from the IPPLM and the University of Opole participated in setting up and testing the components of the CO monitor diagnostics installed on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany.

This system was designed by Polish resarchers and is now entering the commissioning phase before the next W7-X experimental campaign, which is planned for the end of 2022. The CO monitor is a spectrometer used to measure light plasma impurities which are of the greatest importance for stable and optimal conditions fot the device operation. Ultimately, it will consist of four independent systems that will measure the spectral lines of elements such as carbon, oxygen, boron and nitrogen.

During the upcoming operational phase, the first part of the spectrometer responsible for measuring the intensity of the carbon and oxygen lines will be put into operation for the first time and tested under experimental conditions.

Photo: © IFPiLM

The aim of the ITER tokamak is to achieve a burning plasma and control it for 400 or even 600s. It means that dominated heating power will be generated in the fusion reactions. Controlling the plasma confinement requires monitoring power generation, fuel mix, plasma density and temperature. The products of the DD and DT fusion reactions are neutrons with energies of 2.5-MeV and 14-MeV, respectively. Neutrons carried out the unperturbed information about their source. Therefore, neutron measurement allows for fusion power determination.

The Radial Neutron Camera (RNC) for ITER aims at the time-resolved measurement of neutron emissivity distribution and associated fusion power density. The RNC will also provide information about ion temperature, fuel ratio and plasma position. The RNC will be located in the ITER Equatorial Port #01 and consist of two systems: in-port and ex-port. Both are composed of collimating structures with neutron detectors at the ends. The in-port part includes six detectors located in the port plug in the tokamak wall and observes plasma edges. The ex-port system probes the core plasma and is placed in a further position. The measurement along collimated lines of sight by 22 detectors allows for the reconstruction of the neutron emissivity over the plasma poloidal cross-section.

Diagnostic scheme

The RNC Consortium is close to finishing the design of the in-port part of the system and moving forward to the manufacturing. The team working on this diagnostic is led by ENEA and includes the IPPLM, IST and IFJ PAN. At the end of in-port collimators, two detectors will be placed in line: a single Crystal Diamond matrix (sCD) and a ²³⁸U Fission Chamber (FC). The preliminary design assumed a water cooling system for diamond detectors protection. Due to the strict ITER requirements, a high-temperature resistant sCD has been developed and tested. The elimination of the cooling system close to the tokamak wall reduces the safety risk. The fabrication of the port plug is planned to be completed in 2025.

Example of the tomographic accuracy		Example of the tomographic result

Source: IPPLM, https://fusionforenergy.europa.eu

On 20-24 June, 2022, the 23^rd International Stellarator-Heliotron Workshop (ISHW) was held at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. The host of the event was the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion. Over 130 participants arrived from Poland and abroad. Among the guests were the leading reserchers from e.g. Germany, Spain, Japan and the United States.

The topics discussed during the conference included, among others, optimization of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, the concepts of the magnetic field generated by a complex system of coils, the study of the behavior of particles in plasma and the concept of a reactor based on a stellarator or heliotron.

The chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and a member of the International Scientific Committee was Ms. Monika Kubkowska, the IPPLM professor.

After the conference, on 24 June (Friday), the Stellarator-Heliotron Coordinated Working Group Meeting (CWGM) was also held to discuss joint experiments on fusion devices located in Germany (W7-X), Japan (LHD, Heliotron-J), Spain (TJ-II) and the United States (HSX).

Photo: © IFPiLM

The 16^th edition of the Kudowa Summer School "Towards Fusion Energy" has drawn to a close. 48 people from 9 countries took part in the event organized by the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion on 6-10 June in Kudowa-Zdrój.

Dr. Jozef Ongena from the Royal Military Academy in Brussels attended the inauguration of the Kudowa Summer School. The scientific and organizational committees were headed by Prof. Monika Kubkowska and Ms. Agnieszka Jardin, MA from the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion.

The lectures were conducted by 19 outstanding specialists from leading research centers, including the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (Germany), Imperial College London (UK), ENEA (Italy), Technical University of Lisbon (Portugal), Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland).

During the student sessions, 20 participants presented their own research results, and the best presentations were awarded. Yuliia Volkova from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine) won the first place. The prizes for the second place were awarded ex aequo to Przemysław Tchórz from the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (Poland) and Bartłomiej Jabłoński from Lodz University of Technology (Poland). Two prizes were also awarded for the third place: one went to Jędrzej Walkowiak from the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland), and the other went to Patryk Nowak vel Nowakowski from the Lodz University of Technology (Poland).

The topics of the classes during the Kudowa Summer School concerned various aspects of plasma physics, including fusion energy, experiments with the use of plasma, its technology and diagnostics. The issues related to astrophysics were also discussed.

The next edition of the Summer School of Plasma Physics will be held in 2024. We cordially invite you to participate in this event today!

Photos: © IFPiLM

In the latest video, we present the contribution of researchers from the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) to the unquestionable breakthrough in nuclear fusion research at the world's largest JET (Joint European Torus) tokamak in Culham near Oxford (UK).

During the last experimental campaign (DTE2), this device set a new record for fusion energy. In December 2021, 59 megajoules of energy were obtained in a steady state lasting 5 seconds, which as a result is almost three times higher than the previous record from 1997. For more information please visit: https://bit.ly/3hBh6T4

The achievement in question is the culmination of many years of research carried out by experts from Europe, including Poland. The researchers from the IPPLM have been actively involved in this work since 2005. Their contribution to the research conducted at the JET tokamak includes:

• design and preparation of modern detectors for soft X-ray diagnostics,
• analysis and interpretation of experimental data recorded using various diagnostics,
• studies on the behavior of plasma impurities in order to control them and minimize their accumulation,
• measurements of fusion reaction products (neutrons and fast helium ions),
• calibration of the neutron diagnostics system in JET for the energy of 14 MeV,
• performing numerous reconstructions of tomographic plasma radiation based on bolometric data,
• development and application of numerical methods in plasma research.

The video features the following IPPLM researchers:

• dr hab. Monika Kubkowska – member of the Governing Board of the EUROfusion consortium, IPPLM deputy director for scientific affairs,
• dr hab. Agata Chomiczewska – national coordinator of research at the JET tokamak,
• dr hab. Maryna Chernyshova – head of the Department of Nuclear Fusion and Plasma Spectroscopy,
• dr Ewa Łaszyńska – head of the Laboratory of Neutron Diagnostics and Gamma Radiation,
• dr Piotr Chmielewski – head of the Laboratory of Numerical Plasma Modeling.