Numerical simulation of a helium Plasma-Material Interaction experiment in GyM linear device through SOLPS-ITER and ERO2.0 codes

TL;DR

This study combines SOLPS-ITER and ERO2.0 codes to simulate helium plasma-material interactions in a linear device, validating plasma profiles and analyzing material erosion and deposition with realistic steel composition.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled simulation approach for helium PMI in a linear device, including metastable states and realistic wall material effects.

Findings

Validated plasma profiles against experimental data

Assessed the impact of helium metastable states in simulations

Analyzed erosion and deposition with stainless steel walls

Abstract

Learning how to safely handle Plasma-Material Interaction (PMI) is a key challenge towards the commercialisation of energy from nuclear fusion. In this respect, linear plasma devices are ideal experimental testbeds, and numerical codes play a crucial complementary role. In this paper, a numerical investigation of PMI-relevant helium plasma experimental discharges in GyM linear device is presented, in which SOLPS-ITER and ERO2.0 codes are coupled for plasma background generation and material erosion investigation respectively, with the aim to support the interpretation and complement the available experimental dataset. On the plasma side, simulated profiles are validated against experimental data to provide a realistic plasma background, and the role of He metastable states is assessed for the first time in SOLPS simulations. On the material side, the erosion and deposition effects due to the introduction of the sample-holder in the simulation volume are investigated, now considering also the real stainless steel composition as wall material.