Diagnostic first mirrors for burning plasma experiments (invited)

The current state of investigations of the problem of providing first mirrors (FMs) for diagnostic systems in a reactor-grade fusion device is summarized. Results obtained in simulation experiments that have been conducted during recent years in several laboratories are presented. Attention is concentrated on two processes that can have an opposite effect but both can lead to degradation of mirror optical properties, namely: sputtering by charge exchange atoms which leads to erosion, and deposition which leads to surface contamination. It is shown in the analysis that when sputtering dominates, mirrors of monocrystalline refractory metals (Mo, W) can have a sufficiently long lifetime even for FMs that have to be located close to the first wall. Similarly, films of low sputtering yield metals on high thermal conductivity substrates (e.g., Rh on Cu) can be used for FMs in locations where the charge exchange flux is reduced to about a tenth of that at the first wall. However, deposition poses a serious threat to the lifetime of FMs but more modeling and experimental investigations are necessary before quantitative conclusions can be reached. Some mitigation methods are possible and these are briefly discussed. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.