Bombardment of Thin Lithium Films With Energetic Plasma Flows
Gray, Travis Kelly
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/85924
Description
Title
Bombardment of Thin Lithium Films With Energetic Plasma Flows
Author(s)
Gray, Travis Kelly
Issue Date
2009
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Ruzic, David N.
Department of Study
Nuclear Engineering
Discipline
Nuclear Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Engineering, Nuclear
Language
eng
Abstract
Here, we present experimental verification of substantially reduced target surface temperature with the use of thin lithium films on surface of the target as compared to a bare target. Furthermore, optical measurements are made to determine the density and temperature of the lithium vapor cloud as it expands away from the target surface. A collisional-radiative model for both neutrals and singly ionized lithium is used to model the lithium vapor and is found to correlate well with the optical measurements. The vapor cloud electron temperature is found to vary from 2--3 eV with peak heating occurring 3--5 mm away from the target. While the lithium neutral density is found to fall off exponentially from the surface, the lithium ion density is peaked 5--10 mm away from the target. This suggests an ionization front at this distance from the target where the energy from the incident plasma is primarily absorbed by the lithium vapor. It is estimated that the primary mechanisms for energy deposition into the lithium vapor are due to primary and secondary ionizations of the lithium as well as electron-lithium scattering. The energy absorbed by these processes correlates well with the energy reduction found to the target surface when a lithium coating is present.
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