An Overview of Recent Standard and Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Helium Behavior in Tungsten

Luis Sandoval; Danny Perez; Blas P Uberuaga; Arthur F Voter

doi:10.3390/ma12162500

An Overview of Recent Standard and Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Helium Behavior in Tungsten

Materials (Basel). 2019 Aug 7;12(16):2500. doi: 10.3390/ma12162500.

Authors

Luis Sandoval¹, Danny Perez¹, Blas P Uberuaga², Arthur F Voter³

Affiliations

¹ Theoretical Division T-1, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
² Materials Science and Technology Division MST-8, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
³ Theoretical Division T-1, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. afv@lanl.gov.

Abstract

One of the most critical challenges for the successful adoption of nuclear fusion power corresponds to plasma-facing materials. Due to its favorable properties in this context (low sputtering yield, high thermal conductivity, high melting point, among others), tungsten is a leading candidate material. Nevertheless, tungsten is affected by the plasma and fusion byproducts. Irradiation by helium nuclei, in particular, strongly modifies the surface structure by a synergy of processes, whose origin is the nucleation and growth of helium bubbles. In this review, we present recent advances in the understanding of helium effects in tungsten from a simulational approach based on accelerated molecular dynamics, which emphasizes the use of realistic parameters, as are expected in experimental and operational fusion power conditions.

Keywords: helium bubbles; nucleation and growth; tungsten.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding