HOME > Research Activities > Fusion Systems Research Division
- Research Activities
- Project
- Large Helical Device Project
- Numerical Simulation Reactor Research Project
- The Fusion Engineering Research Project
- Task Force for Next Research Project
- Department of Helical Plasma Research
- High-Density Plasma Physics Research Division
- High-Temperature Plasma Physics Research Division
- Plasma Heating Physics Research Division
- Device Engineering and Applied Physics Research Division
- Fusion Systems Research Division
- Fusion Theory and Simulation Research Division
- Fundamental Physics Simulation Research Division
- Rokkasho Research Center
- Collaborative Research
- Collaborative Research
- Japan-United States Collaboration Program
- Japan-Korea Collaboration Program
- JSPS-CAS Bilateral Joint Research Projects
- International Energy Agency (IEA) Implementing Agreement for Cooperation in Development of Stellarator-Heliotron Concept
- Database
- Atomic Molecular Database
- International Stellarator/Heliotron Confinement/Profile Database [ISH-C/P DB]
Fusion Systems Research Division
In addition to reactor system design studies, this division promotes research on low activation materials and materials systems, blankets, reactor structure, plasma-facing components, and the relevant elementary processes, in order to develop mainly in-vessel components of fusion reactors. This division also enhances collaboration with universities as the core organization of an inter-university research institute in these research fields.
Currently, a study is being carried out on the microstructural evolution of materials by helium or hydrogen particle irradiation. For example, helium atoms push out lattice atoms and accumulate forming bubbles (see the figures to the right), because the solubility of helium in metals is very low. The effects of these microstructural changes on materials properties such as mechanical properties, hydrogen permeation, and retention are being investigated for the purpose of developing materials suitable for plasma-facing components.
Production, collection, and evaluation of the data on atomic, molecular, and plasma-wall interaction processes, which are necessary for fusion reactor development, are being carried out. A numerical database has been constructed and is available via a website on the NIFS homepage (http://dbshino.nifs.ac.jp).
Transmission Electron Microscopy images of helium bubbles in stainless steel induced by exposure to helium plasma discharges in the LHD (above); the schematic illustration of the bubble formation processes (below)