Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

The paper presents studies of the application of ion diagnostics and optical spectroscopy for on-line measurement of the amount and characteristics of co-deposits from the laser-ablated surface of the plasmafacing components (e.g. graphite tiles). For removal of the co-deposit layer a repetitive Nd:YAG laser was used. Determination of the characteristics of ions emitted from the laser-illuminated targets was performed using ion collectors (on the basis of a time-of-flight method) and an optical spectrometer. The main ion stream parameters and spectral lines of deuterium and carbon or tungsten ions were measured depending on laser pulse parameters. The research proved that optical spectroscopy could be a convenient method for on-line observation of the co-deposited layer removal by means of laser ablation. In combination with the investigation of collected co-deposit dust, the performed study made it possible to state that laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy can be useful as a diagnostic method for the ablative co-deposited layer removal and the wall conditioning. The properties of modified surfaces of samples and collected dust (evaporated co-deposit) were determined using different measuring methods.

laser ablation, laser-induced co-deposit removal, ion diagnostics and optical spectroscopy