Effect of 14.7-MeV Protons and 3.6-MeV Alpha Particles on Fusion Structural Materials

Fusion reactors will require specially engineered structural materials that will simultaneously satisfy the harsh conditions, such as high thermomechanical stresses, high heat loads, and severe radiation damage, without compromising on safety considerations. The simulation of 14.7-MeV protons and 3.6-MeV α-particles irradiation processing using different fusion structural materials, such as graphite, titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, tantalum, and tungsten, was studied. The open-source three-dimensional computer simulation code SRIM (2013 version) was used to determine the protons and α-particles penetrability into the target material as well as the range dependence of the protons and α-particles energies. The protons and α-particles distribution range and their trajectories in the target materials were determined. The effect of the target materials’ atomic mass on the 14.7-MeV protons and 3.6-MeV α-particles penetration range was determined. Also, the phonons and ionization of the target materials induced by these irradiated particles were studied.