Development of a pulsed-biasing system and temperature measurement techniques for transient heating experiments on plasma-material interactions

A power switching system has been developed to reverse the voltage polarity on the sample holder of PISCES-B from negative to positive potential in the microsecond time scale. Positive biasing draws electrons from the steady-state plasma through the sample, creating Ohmic heating on the surface. This pulsed biasing is used to replicate the transient heat loads that will be seen on plasma facing components during transient events, such as edge localized modes, in a device such as ITER. Surface temperatures are measured using two pyrometry techniques, a fast two-color system and a slower, more sensitive spectral system. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.