4.22 - Radiation Effects on the Physical Properties of Dielectric Insulators for Fusion Reactors

Present plans envisage that ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) will come into operation early in the first half of the twenty-first century, with the purpose of bridging the gap between the present-day large ‘physics’ machines and the precommercial DEMO reactor. Commercial fusion reactors could then become available toward the end of the century. Although ITER will help to solve many problems remaining in the field of plasma physics, it will present additional operational and experimental difficulties because of the intense radiation field from the ‘burning’ plasma. This poses problems due to the radiation damage effects in the numerous insulator components. The effects on the dielectric properties of the insulating materials required for fusion applications are discussed with reference to the immediate ITER requirements, and the far more severe limitations for DEMO and future power plants.