Preliminary Assessment and Analysis of Co₂ Cleaning for an Inertial Fusion Device

The mechanisms of cleaning with carbon dioxide ice (CO₂) for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) application are discussed and analyzed. The compatibility between this cleaning process and the materials proposed for energy-relevant liquid-interaction experiments is examined. The cleaning mechanisms include kinetic shear stress, sublimation followed by thermophoresis, and solvent action. The study shows that the debris size could determine the efficiency of this cleaning technique. Furthermore, if the condensed vapor particulate becomes flattened and embedded inside the abscissa while hitting the surface, a large kinetic shear would be needed for debris removal which might damage the surface.