A new plasma-surface interactions research facility: PISCES-B and first materials erosion experiments on bulk-boronized graphite
- Institute of Plasma and Fusion Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
A new plasma-surface interactions research facility, PISCES-B, has been designed and constructed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The entire vacuum chamber is bakable and a base pressure of the order of 10{sup {minus}8} Torr is attainable. The PISCES-B facility can generate continuous plasmas of argon, helium, hydrogen, deuterium, and nitrogen. The density of these plasmas ranges from 1{times}10{sup 11} to 3{times}10{sup 13} cm{sup {minus}3} and the electron temperature ranges from 3 to 51 eV. The plasma bombarding flux to the target can be varied from 1{times}10{sup 17} to 8{times}10{sup 18} ions cm{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}. The neutral pressure is controllable in the range from 3{times}10{sup {minus}5} to 1{times}10{sup {minus}3} Torr during plasma operation. An {ital in} {ital situ} surface analysis station with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and secondary ion mass spectroscopy capabilities is attached to the main plasma experimental chamber. Using the PISCES-B facility, first materials erosion experiments have been conducted on newly developed bulk-boronized graphites and selected isotropic graphites for comparison. The erosion yield for 3% boronized graphite due to hydrogen plasma bombardment has been found to be reduced by 30%--40%, relative to isotropic graphites, both in the chemical sputtering and radiation enhanced sublimation regimes at temperatures from 100 to 1300 {degree}C. No significant surface composition change is observed for boronized graphite after plasma bombardment to a total fluence of the order of 10{sup 22} ions cm{sup {minus}2}.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS03-84ER52104
- OSTI ID:
- 7093310
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA), Vol. 8:3; ISSN 0734-2101
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GRAPHITE
EROSION
VACUUM SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
PLASMA DENSITY
SURFACE CONTAMINATION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
ULTRAHIGH VACUUM
CARBON
CONTAMINATION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
SPECTROSCOPY
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