Features of the Damage and the Structural Changes in the Tungsten Surface Layer under the Pulsed Action of Laser Radiation, Ion and Plasma Fluxes

Abstract

The degradation of a bilateral pressed tungsten surface layer by pulsed laser irradiation in the free-running mode (power density q = 10⁵–5 × 10⁶ W/cm², pulse duration τ = 0.7 ms) and the Q-switched mode (q = 10⁹–10¹⁰ W/cm², τ = 80 ns) as well as under plasma beam irradiation in a plasma focus (PF) device (q = 10⁸–10¹² W/cm², τ = 10–100 ns) has been investigated. The features of the degradation, erosion, and structural changes in the tungsten surface layer under different irradiation conditions have been determined. It has been shown that the use of PF devices in combination with laser equipment is promising for the simulation of the extreme radiation–thermal effects in materials that are typical of thermonuclear fusion devices with magnetic and inertial plasma confinement.