Use of Polycarbonate Vacuum Vessels in High-Temperature Fusion-Plasma Research
Fusion Science and Technology / Volume 64 / Number 2 / August 2013 / Pages 298-302
Divertor and High-Heat-Flux Components / Proceedings of the Twentieth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (TOFE-2012) (Part 1), Nashville, Tennessee, August 27-31, 2012 / dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST13-A18093
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Magnetic fusion energy (MFE) research requires ultrahigh-vacuum conditions, primarily to reduce plasma contamination by impurities. For radiofrequency (RF)-heated plasmas, a great benefit may accrue from a nonconducting vacuum vessel, allowing external RF antennas to avoid the complications and cost of internal antennas and high-voltage high-current feedthroughs. In this paper we describe these and other criteria, e.g., safety, design flexibility, structural integrity, access, outgassing, transparency, and fabrication techniques that led to the selection and use of 25.4-cm OD, 1.6-cm wall polycarbonate pipe as the main vacuum vessel for an MFE research device whose plasmas are expected to reach keV energies for durations exceeding 0.1 s.
