Extreme materials environment of the fusion fireplace

Commercial fusion energy will require an energy-producing fusion plasma core (the fire ) surrounded by an integrated engineering system (the fireplace ). This article focuses on the extreme materials requirements of the fusion fireplace, which has the following intertwined functions: (1) a first wall that faces and survives the intense fluxes of energetic particles and photons emanating from the fusion core without overly poisoning the fusion plasma; (2) transferring the heat from the captured particle/photon flux via a coolant medium and heat exchanger toward useful applications (e.g., electricity generation or high-grade heat for industrial processes); and (3) providing a closed fuel cycle, which for deuterium-tritium fusion concepts means breeding, extracting, and separating tritium and reinjecting it back into the fusion core. This article will emphasize key opportunities in fusion materials research for enabling and accelerating the development and demonstration of commercial fusion energy, ranging from plasma-facing materials through the first wall and blanket structural and functional materials and plasma-heating systems to the high-field magnets.

Automated summary

This article discusses the extreme materials requirements of the fusion fireplace in commercial fusion energy. The fusion fireplace needs to withstand intense fluxes from the fusion core, transfer heat to useful applications, and ensure a closed fuel cycle. The article emphasizes the importance of fusion materials research in enabling and accelerating the development of commercial fusion energy.