Search

Triiodide perovskites $${\rm CsPbI}_{3}$$ , $${\rm CsSnI}_{3}$$ , and $${\rm FAPbI}_{3}$$ (where FA is formamidinium) are highly promising materials for a range of optoelectronic applications in energy conversion. However, they are thermodynamically unstable at room temperature, preferring to form low-temperature (low-T) non-perovskite phases with one-dimensional anisotropic crystal structures. While such thermodynamic behavior represents a major obstacle toward realizing high-performance devices based on their high-temperature (high-T) perovskite phases, the underlying phase transition dynamics are still not well understood. Here we use in situ optical micro-spectroscopy to quantitatively study the transition from the low-T to high-T phases in individual $${\rm CsSnI}_{3}$$ and $${\rm FAPbI}_{3}$$ nanowires. We reveal a large blueshift in the photoluminescence (PL) peak (~38 meV) at the low-T/high-T two-phase interface of partially transitioned $${\rm FAPbI}_{3}$$ wire, which may result from the lattice distortion at the phase boundary. Compared to the experimentally derived activation energy of CsSnI3 (~1.93 eV), the activation energy of $${\rm FAPbI}_{3}$$ is relatively small (~0.84 eV), indicating a lower kinetic energy barrier when transitioning from a face-sharing octahedral configuration to a corner-sharing one. Further, the phase propagation rate in CsSnI3 is observed to be relatively high, which may be attributed to a high concentration of Sn vacancies. Our results could not only facilitate a deeper understanding of phase transition dynamics in halide perovskites with anisotropic crystal structures, but also enable controllable manipulation of optoelectronic properties via local phase engineering. Metal halide perovskites are a new class of semiconductors with great promise for a variety of optoelectronic applications. Owing to their soft ionic lattice, halide perovskites often exhibit rich phase transitions between different crystal structures, frequently from the “active” perovskite phases to undesirable “inactive” non-perovskite phases. Understanding and controlling this transition is vital for developing stable, high-performance devices. However, there is limited understanding on how different symmetry, crystal structure, and defect would impact such a phase transition process. In this report, in situ optical micro-spectroscopy is used to systematically investigate the phase transitions from non-perovskite to perovskite phases in individual CsSnI3 and FAPbI3 wires. Compared to the transition from an edge-sharing octahedral non-perovskite structure to a corner-sharing perovskite structure in CsSnI3, the activation energy for the FAPbI3 phase transition is relatively small, indicating a lower energy barrier when starting from a face-sharing octahedral structure in FAPbI3. The high concentration of Sn vacancies is probably responsible for the much higher phase propagation rate in CsSnI3 when compared to a CsPbBrxI3-x system with the same crystal structure but different halide vacancies. Our experimental results expand the knowledge of phase transition in halide perovskites and offer important guidance toward rationally designing more stable and efficient perovskite devices.

Summary Tandem electrocatalysis decouples individual steps within a chemically complicated pathway via multicomponent catalyst design. Such a concept is attractive for CO2 electro-conversion to multicarbons (C2+), especially at high rates. Here, we show that a Cu-Ag tandem catalyst on a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) can enhance the C2+ production rate from CO2 through CO2 reduction to CO on Ag and subsequent carbon coupling on Cu. With added Ag, the C2+ partial current over a Cu surface increases from 37 to 160 mA/cm2 at −0.70 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 1 M KOH with no mutual interference between the two metals. Moreover, the intrinsic C2H4 and C2H5OH activity in the tandem platform is significantly higher than Cu alone under either pure CO2 or CO atmosphere. Our results indicate that the CO-enriched local environment generated by Ag can enhance C2+ formation on Cu beyond CO2 or CO feeding, suggesting new mechanisms in a tandem three-phase environment.

Mechanochromic response is of great importance in designing bionic robot systems and colorimetric devices. Unfortunately, compared to mimicking motions of natural creatures, fabricating mechanochromic systems with programmable colorimetric responses remains challenging. Herein, we report the development of unconventional mechanochromic films based on hybrid nanorods integrated with magnetic and plasmonic anisotropy. Magnetic-plasmonic hybrid nanorods have been synthesized through a unique space-confined seed-mediated process, which represents an open platform for preparing next-generation complex nanostructures. By coupling magnetic and plasmonic anisotropy, the plasmonic excitation of the hybrid nanorods could be collectively regulated using magnetic fields. It facilitates convenient incorporation of the hybrid nanorods into polymer films with a well-controlled orientation and enables sensitive colorimetric changes in response to linear and angular motions. The combination of unique synthesis and convenient magnetic alignment provides an advanced approach for designing programmable mechanochromic devices with the desired precision, flexibility, and scalability., Programmable mechanochromic systems hold important roles in designing advanced bionic robots and colorimetric devices. Herein, the authors report the development of magnetic-plasmonic hybrid nanorods that can be integrated into thin polymer films with controlled orientations to display programmable mechanochromism.

Organic-inorganic layered perovskites are two-dimensional quantum wells with layers of lead-halide octahedra stacked between organic ligand barriers. The combination of their dielectric confinement and ionic sublattice results in excitonic excitations with substantial binding energies that are strongly coupled to the surrounding soft, polar lattice. However, the ligand environment in layered perovskites can significantly alter their optical properties due to the complex dynamic disorder of soft perovskite lattice. Here, we observe the dynamic disorder through phonon dephasing lifetimes initiated by ultrafast photoexcitation employing high-resolution resonant impulsive stimulated Raman spectroscopy of a variety of ligand substitutions. We demonstrate that vibrational relaxation in layered perovskite formed from flexible alkyl-amines as organic barriers is fast and relatively independent of the lattice temperature. Relaxation in aromatic amine based layered perovskite is slower, though still fast relative to pure inorganic lead bromide lattices, with a rate that is temperature dependent. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we explain the fast rates of relaxation by quantifying the large anharmonic coupling of the optical modes with the ligand layers and rationalize the temperature independence due to their amorphous packing. This work provides a molecular and time-domain depiction of the relaxation of nascent optical excitations and opens opportunities to understand how they couple to the complex layered perovskite lattice, elucidating design principles for optoelectronic devices., 7 pages, 4 figures, SI

The EC-system of the TCV tokamak is progressively being upgraded with the addition of two MW-class dual-frequency gyrotrons (84 and 126 GHz/2s/1MW). In order to connect the two gyrotrons to the existing low field side and top launchers, new waveguide routing from gyrotron hall to TCV tokamak was designed and dedicated Matching Optics Units (MOU) have been developed. The internal optics of the system have been determined aiming at optimal coupling to the HE11 waveguides. The laws of quasi-optics were used to find quadratic surfaces to shape an incoming Gaussian beam representative of the gyrotron output into a beam matching the proper field distribution at the waveguide entrance and with HE11 content compatible with the system requirements. A solution with one flat (movable) mirror and two shaping mirrors was found and characterized with the physical optics code GRASP. The resulting field distribution is then truncated and projected onto the HE11 component to evaluate the design solution (coupled power at the waveguide entrance >98.4% and HE11 content >96.8% for both frequencies). The model and the results of this analysis will be presented and compared to a model based on the Rayleigh–Sommerfeld scalar diffraction integral. GRASP was also used to evaluate preliminary misalignment effects in terms of coupled power to the waveguide and the MOU design moved to the manufacturing phase. In parallel to the gyrotron integration and to extend the level of flexibility of the TCV EC-system, a modular closed divertor chamber is developed, requiring the X3 top-launcher to be redesigned. Preliminary antenna conceptual design studies including new curvature to cope with the requirements of modularity and flexibility will be presented.

The self-assembly of nanoparticles, a process whereby nanocrystal building blocks organize into even more ordered superstructures, is of great interest to nanoscience. Here we report the layer-by-layer assembly of 2D perovskite nanosheet building blocks. Structural analysis reveals that the assembled superlattice nanocrystals match with the layered Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite phase. This assembly proves reversible, as these superlattice nanocrystals can be reversibly exfoliated back into their building blocks via sonication. This study demonstrates the opportunity to further understand and exploit thermodynamics to increase order in a system of nanoparticles and to study emergent optical properties of a superlattice from 2D, weakly attracted, perovskite building blocks.

Nitrogen fixation in a simulated natural environment (i.e., near ambient pressure, room temperature, pure water, and incident light) would provide a desirable approach to future nitrogen conversion. As the N≡N triple bond has a thermodynamically high cleavage energy, nitrogen reduction under such mild conditions typically undergoes associative alternating or distal pathways rather than following a dissociative mechanism. Here, we report that surface plasmon can supply sufficient energy to activate N2 through a dissociative mechanism in the presence of water and incident light, as evidenced by in situ synchrotron radiation-based infrared spectroscopy and near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Theoretical simulation indicates that the electric field enhanced by surface plasmon, together with plasmonic hot electrons and interfacial hybridization, may play a critical role in N≡N dissociation. Specifically, AuRu core-antenna nanostructures with broadened light adsorption cross section and active sites achieve an ammonia production rate of 101.4 μmol g-1 h-1 without any sacrificial agent at room temperature and 2 atm pressure. This work highlights the significance of surface plasmon to activation of inert molecules, serving as a promising platform for developing novel catalytic systems.

The hollow Fep-reinforced Cu-matrix homogeneous immiscible alloys were successfully produced by the combination of Kirkendall effect and laser powder deposition. The microstructure and corrosion resistance depended not only on chemical composition, but also on cooling rate. When Fe content decreased from 30% to 12% and cooling rate decreased from ∼2 × 104 to ∼1 × 104 K/s, the demixing was eliminated, the mixed Fep (α-Fe/γ-Fe) were uniformly embedded within e-Cu matrix and the "single-void" Fep transformed into the "multi-voids" Fep. The "multi-voids" immiscible alloy exhibited higher corrosion resistance than the "single-void" immiscible alloy and Brass after immersing for 5 days.

(1) Background: The health effect of temperature has become a rising public health topic. The objective of this study is to assess the association between apparent temperature and non-accidental deaths, and the mortality burden attributed to cold and heat temperature; (2) Methods: The daily data on temperature and deaths were collected from 10 cities in Thailand, Korea and China. We fitted a time-series regression with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) to derive the health risk of temperature for each city and then pooled them to get the overall cumulative risk by multivariate meta-analysis. Additionally, we calculated the attributable fraction of deaths for heat and cold, which was defined as temperatures above and below minimum-mortality temperature (MMT); (3) Results: There are regional heterogeneities in the minimum mortality percentiles (MMP) and attributable fractions for different countries. The MMP varied from about the 5–10th percentile in Thailand to 63–93rd percentile in China and Korea. The attributable fractions of the total deaths due to short-term exposure to temperature in Asia is 7.62%, of which the cold effect (6.44%) is much higher than the heat effect (1.18%); (4) Conclusions: Our study suggested that apparent temperature was associated with an increase in non-accidental mortality. Most of the temperature-related mortality burden was attributable to cold, except for Thailand.

For the required upgrades of the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating system at the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X, the development of a 1.5 MW 140 GHz Continuous Wave (CW) prototype gyrotron has started. KIT has been responsible to deliver the scientific design of the tube (i.e. the electron optics design and the RF design), with contributions from NKUA and IPP. The prototype gyrotron has been ordered at the industrial partner, Thales, France, and is expected to be delivered in 2021. In parallel, a short-pulse pre-prototype gyrotron has been developed at KIT, to provide the means for a first experimental validation of the scientific design in ms pulses, prior to the construction of the CW prototype. This paper reports on the status of the 1.5 MW CW gyrotron development, focusing on the scientific design and its numerical and experimental validation.

A multifaceted simulation procedure, addressing the electron beam properties, the beam-wave interaction, and the internal losses, has been used for the simulation of the experimental operation of a 1.5-MW 140-GHz short-pulse preprototype gyrotron. The preprototype is related to the development of 1.5-MW gyrotrons for the upgrade of the electron cyclotron resonance heating system at the stellarator W7-X. A very good reproduction of experimental results has been achieved by simulation, without resorting to arbitrary speculations. This validated the numerical tools as well as the design and fabrication of the short-pulse preprototype, which fully reached the target of efficient 1.5-MW operation in millisecond pulses. Special attention has been given to simulating the possibility of parasitic after-cavity interaction in the gyrotron launcher. Also, parasitic backward-wave excitation in the gyrotron cavity has been demonstrated by simulation, at a frequency and voltage range in agreement with experimentally observed parasitic oscillations. This offers an additional possibility with respect to the origin of deleterious parasitic oscillations in high-power gyrotrons, which are usually attributed mainly to the gyrotron beam tunnel.

In anticipation of an Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating system upgrade for the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X, a 1.5 MW – 140 GHz continuous-wave gyrotron is under development. In order to provide a first experimental verification of the scientific RF and electron beam optics design of the gyrotron with ms pulses, the Karlsruhe Intitule of Technology has developed a short-pulse pre-prototype gyrotron. In this work, we present details regarding the construction of the pre-prototype as well as measurements from the first experimental campaign delivering up to 1.6 MW in short pulses.

The Collective Thomson Scattering (CTS) diagnostic measures the scattering spectrum of incident radiation off collective fluctuations in plasmas. In Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) the diagnostic uses a 140 GHz heating gyrotron as a source of the probing radiation. At this frequency, the CTS spectra are heavily affected by the electron cyclotron emission, and the microwave beam propagation is restricted at typical W7-X plasma parameters. The diagnostic was successfully commissioned in the last experimental campaign and demonstrated ion temperature measurements. However, the signal-to-noise ratio was too low for measuring other quantities such as the fast-ion velocity distribution function or the fuel ion ratio. Currently, the W7-X CTS diagnostic is undergoing an upgrade to a frequency of 175 GHz. This will increase the sensitivity of the diagnostic, since the noise due to electron cyclotron emission will be reduced, and it will relax the constraints on microwave beam propagation in W7-X. Here we present the salient features of the upgraded CTS system and discuss its prospects for both thermal-ion and fast-ion measurements.

To increase the total injected Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) power in the plasma of the nuclear fusion experiment Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), an upgrade of the existing gyrotron installation is in progress. The existing ECRH system, currently equipped with ten one-MW-class, 140 GHz continuous wave (CW) gyrotrons, will be augmented by enhanced 1.5 MW tubes, which are based on the successful existing 1 MW gyrotron design.

The 10 MW electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) system at the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) currently relies on the successful operation of continuous wave (CW) 1 MW, 140 GHz gyrotrons which have chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond output windows cooled by the industrial silicon oil Dow Corning 200(R) 5 cSt. The window features a 1.8 mm thick diamond disk brazed to two copper cuffs with an aperture of 88 mm, which are then integrated in a steel housing. In the context of the upgrade of the ECRH system towards higher microwave power, this gyrotron design has been significantly advanced to fulfill the requirement of 1.5 MW CW operation, still at 140 GHz. A prototype of this new gyrotron is under development at Thales, France. This paper reports the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) conjugated heat transfer and structural analyses of the diamond window performed using the commercial code ANSYS V19.2 to investigate its performance at 1.5 MW operation. Furthermore, sensitivity studies were also carried out with respect to the absorbed power in the disk and the mm-wave beam radius at the window location. These analyses showed that the window design of the existing 1 MW gyrotrons still works quite well at higher power operation, thus verifying the performance of the window. Even in the worst case scenario of 1.5 kW absorbed power, the maximum temperature of 215 °C at the disk center can be safely accepted, being below the conservative limit of 250 °C for CVD diamond. In addition, the non-axial symmetric thermal gradients due to the geometry of the cooling channels lead to thermal stresses in the disk and the cuffs. However, they are much lower than the limits. The copper cuffs experience plasticity deformation in the region of the interface with the diamond disk up to a value of about 1.5 mm.

Heat-induced perovskite LED device degradation is elucidated via insightful in situ structure and spectroscopy characterizations., Achieving perovskite-based high–color purity blue-emitting light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is still challenging. Here, we report successful synthesis of a series of blue-emissive two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper phase single crystals and their high–color purity blue-emitting LED demonstrations. Although this approach successfully achieves a series of bandgap emissions based on the different layer thicknesses, it still suffers from a conventional temperature-induced device degradation mechanism during high-voltage operations. To understand the underlying mechanism, we further elucidate temperature-induced device degradation by investigating the crystal structural and spectral evolution dynamics via in situ temperature-dependent single-crystal x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence (PL) characterization, and density functional theory calculation. The PL peak becomes asymmetrically broadened with a marked intensity decay, as temperature increases owing to [PbBr6]4− octahedra tilting and the organic chain disordering, which results in bandgap decrease. This study indicates that careful heat management under LED operation is a key factor to maintain the sharp and intense emission.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is doing research and development in the field of megawatt-class radio frequency (RF) sources (gyrotrons) for the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) systems of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant that will follow ITER. In the focus is the development and verification of the European coaxial-cavity gyrotron technology which shall lead to gyrotrons operating at an RF output power significantly larger than 1 MW CW and at an operating frequency above 200 GHz. A major step into that direction is the final verification of the European 170 GHz 2 MW coaxial-cavity pre-prototype at longer pulses up to 1 s. It bases on the upgrade of an already existing highly modular short-pulse (ms-range) pre-prototype. That pre-prototype has shown a world record output power of 2.2 MW already. This paper summarizes briefly the already achieved experimental results using the short-pulse pre-prototype and discusses in detail the design and manufacturing process of the upgrade of the pre-prototype toward longer pulses up to 1 s.

To restrain the collision and coarsening of Fe-rich droplets within supercooled Cu-Fe immiscible melt, the TiB2 particles as inoculants are introduced to produce the TiB2 and Fe2P with nanotwins-reinforced Cu-based immiscible composites by selective laser melting (SLM). The Cu-based immiscible composite with heterogeneous structure is characterized by nano-/micro-scale Fe2P particles and micron fibrous Fe2P dispersed within the e-Cu matrix. Moreover, some nanotwinned Cu (nt-Cu) particles and a high density of nanotwins are embedded within these nano-scale Fe2P particles, whereas some irregular α-Fe precipitated within these fibrous Fe2P. The addition of TiB2 particles can refine the size of Fe2P and promote their homogeneous distribution within the e-Cu matrix. As a result, the hardness and wear resistance of the TiB2 reinforced Cu-based immiscible composite are significantly improved by the combined strengthening mechanisms of twin boundaries (TBs) strengthening, refinement strengthening, dispersion strengthening and precipitation strengthening.

A numerical synthesis method for the optimization of launchers with hybrid-type wall surface for high-power fusion gyrotrons is proposed in this paper. The profile of such a launcher is built from a novel combination of a periodic harmonic wall perturbation followed by a mirror-line-type deformation, so we named it hybrid-type launcher. The synthesis method has been tested to design a hybrid-type launcher to transform the TE32,9 mode of the ITER EU 1-MW gyrotron operating at 170 GHz. The simulation results show that the fundamental Gaussian mode content (FGMC) of the millimeter-wave beam at the radiating aperture of the hybrid-type launcher is approximately 99.1%. In comparison with the corresponding harmonically deformed launcher, the simulations results reveal that the launcher with hybrid-type surface contour provides higher conversion efficiency combined with low diffraction loss (0.7%). The computation time for the design of hybrid-type launchers is just half of that for mirror-line launchers. In the case of not very short launchers, hybrid-type launchers can provide high FGMCs of RF beams with low diffraction losses that are comparable with those of mirror-line launchers.

The DEMO-relevant gyrotron research at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is driven by the European concept for a demonstration fusion reactor (EU DEMO). This paper reports on the recent results of the theoretical and experimental studies towards the development of gyrotrons fulfilling the DEMO needs.

A quasi-optical mode converter is under development for an 170/204 GHz coaxial-cavity gyrotron at KIT. It is operated in the TE$_{\mathbf {34,19}}$ mode at 170 GHz and the TE$_{\mathbf {40,23}}$ mode at 204 GHz. A mirror-line launcher should be used for such modes with the ratio of caustic to launcher radius of approximately 0.32. The optimum value of the launcher radius has been found to allow for a high Gaussian-mode content at both frequencies.

The KIT 170 GHz $\mathbf{TE}_{\pmb{34,19}}$ -mode coaxial-cavity gyrotron has been studied for an upgrade towards a dual- or even triple frequency operation at 170/204/(238) GHz. For this reason, the electron magnetron injection gun (MIG), the cavity and the launcher are simulated for operation with the $\mathbf{TE}_{\pmb{40,23}}$ -mode and $\mathbf{TE}_{\pmb{48,26}}$ -mode at 204 GHz and 238 GHz, respectively. A modification of the coaxial-cavity midsection length leads to an increase of the theoretical RF output power from 1.6 MW to around 2.1 MW at 204 GHz. Further, first experimental cold tests using a mode generator setup, show a successful excitation of the $\mathbf{TE}_{\pmb{40,23}}$ -mode, which is the highest-order mode ever excited.

Gyrotron R&D within the EUROfusion Work Package Heating and Current Drive (WPHCD) is addressing the challenging requirements posed on gyrotrons by the European concept for a demonstration fusion power plant (EU DEMO). These requirements, as specified within WPHCD, ask for highly reliable and robust long-pulse operation of the gyrotron, delivering 2 MW of microwave power at frequencies above 200 GHz with a high overall efficiency above 60% and the option for fast frequency step-tunability. To meet these targets, which are clearly beyond today's state-of-the-art, the R&D activities within WPHCD are organized in five main branches: these are the experimental verification of the advanced coaxial gyrotron technology at long pulses, the development of a coaxial gyrotron meeting the EU DEMO requirements, the development of multi-stage depressed collectors for enhanced energy recovery, the development of large broadband diamond windows to allow fast frequency tunability of the gyrotron, and the studies on further innovations and improvement of critical gyrotron components, in view of optimization of performance, reliability, and industrialization. The paper presents the progress made on these activities, the recent results, and the near-term planning. The major recent achievements include (i) the experimental validation of the fabrication of the new, water-cooled components for the longer-pulse coaxial gyrotron at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, by demonstrating 2.2 MW at 170 GHz with 33% efficiency without depressed collector, (ii) the design of key components for a 2 MW, 170/204 GHz dual-frequency coaxial gyrotron, (iii) the design of a two-stage depressed collector with 77% efficiency, (iv) the first-ever production, in an industrial plasma reactor, of large chemical vapor deposition diamond wafers of 180mm diameter, (v) the procurement of an advanced electron gun with coated emitter edges, and (vi) advances in the theoretical and numerical modelling for investigating improved concepts for the gyrotron beam tunnel and cavity.

In Europe, the research and development with main focus on achieving robust industrial designs of series gyrotrons for electron cyclotron heating and current drive of today's nuclear fusion experiments and towards a future DEMOnstration fusion power plant is constantly progressing. The R&D is following two different paths. Both are complementing each other: Firstly, it is the adaption of the physical design and basic mechanical construction of the reliably operating 140 GHz, 1 MW CW (spec.: 920 kW, 1800 s) gyrotron of the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), Greifswald, Germany. With regards to time and costs it is the target to perform reliable developments of fusion gyrotrons with advanced specifications for today's plasma fusion experiments. Main focus is on the development of the first EU 170 GHz, 1 MW CW (3600 s) gyrotron for the installation in ITER, Cadarache, France. Another adaption is the dual-frequency 126/84 GHz 1 MW (2 s) gyrotron upgrade for the medium size TCV tokamak, Lausanne, Switzerland. Finally, it is the upgrade of the W7-X gyrotron design towards an RF output power per unit of up to 1.5 MW and possible dual-frequency operation by keeping the basic mechanical construction. Additional to the proven design it allows to fit the new 1.5 MW gyrotron into the already existing infrastructure and to reuse existing W7-X gyrotron auxiliaries, e. g. the high-power voltage supply (HV PS) and the superconducting (SC) magnet. The second R&D path is defined by the complementary approach with regards to development risks towards a future gyrotron which shall fulfil the significant more advanced specifications of a future EU DEMO. The starting point is the 2 MW EU/KIT coaxial-cavity gyrotron design. Main requirements are an RF output power of 2 MW CW at above 200 GHz, multiple operating frequencies, frequency step-tunability and a total efficiency above 60 %.

In order to investigate the effect of TiB2 contents on the microstructure and wear resistance of titanium matrix composites, commercial pure Ti (CP-Ti) powders with 0–7.5 wt.% TiB2 particles were melted by selective laser melting (SLM) to produce the in-situ Ti-TiB composites. When the TiB2 content increases from 2.5 wt.% to 7.5 wt.%, the microstructures of the Ti-TiB composites undergo a transition from the single phase of α′-Ti to the mixed phases of α′-Ti, TiB and TiB2, and the acicular α′-Ti is refined significantly from 1.03 ± 0.24 μm to 0.36 ± 0.05 μm, showing that increasing the TiB2 content induces the formation of TiB and refines the microstructure. Moreover, large TiB2 particles are not melted completely and they react with the Ti matrix liquid to form a TiB layer around the Ti matrix during SLM. However, small TiB2 particles are completely dissolved into the Ti matrix liquid so that the eutectic TiB grains are precipitated at the boundaries of the Ti matrix after in-situ reaction of TiB2 with Ti. The formation of α′ martensite in the titanium matrix and the addition of TiB2 can induce the fine grain strengthening, the dispersion strengthening, the solid solution strengthening in the SLM-produced composites. The results indicate that the microhardness of the composites increases from 258 ± 10.3 HV0.2 to 435 ± 14.7 HV0.2. The wear process of the SLM-produced CP-Ti and TiB2 reinforced Ti matrix composites is accompanied by adhesion wear, abrasive wear and oxidation wear. As a result, when the TiB2 content increases to 7.5%, the wear resistance of the composites increases by 32.6% compared with that of the CP-Ti. These improvements are mainly due to strengthening and hardening effects induced by TiB2 particles and refinement of Ti matrix. This study provides some basis for developing wear-resistant and high-strength titanium alloys.

In-situ Fe2P reinforced Cu–Fe bulk immiscible alloy with nanotwinned Cu (nt-Cu) was produced by selective laser melting. The immiscible alloy is characterized by e-Cu, micrometer fibrous Fe2P and nanoscale Fe2P particles. Moreover, many α-Fe particles (∼30 μm) are distributed inside the fibrous Fe2P. Interestingly, large amounts of nt-Cu particles (∼15 nm) are dispersed inside the fibrous Fe2P and nanoscale Fe2P particles (∼200 nm). The combination of in-situ Fe2P and twin boundaries in the Cu–Fe immiscible alloy results in enhanced strength and plasticity with ultimate compressive stress of 896 ± 20 MPa and strain to failure of 19 ± 2%.

To select the reasonable spot size during laser powder deposition (LPD), the homogeneous Cu90Fe10 immiscible composites were produced by LPD with different spot sizes (2 mm and 4 mm in diameter). The LPD-produced Cu90Fe10 immiscible composites deposited with different spot sizes display a similar microstructure composed of α-Fe/γ-Fe and e-Cu phases. A large amount of nanoscale Fe-rich particles is uniformly embedded within the Cu-rich matrix and the Cu-rich particles with nanotwins are distributed within the Fe-rich particles due to secondary liquid phase separation (SLPS). Moreover, some nanoscale FeCr grains (∼20 nm) are precipitated within the Fe-rich particles. Both the averaged diameter and grain size of Fe-rich particles reduce with decreasing the spot size due to higher cooling rate. The immiscible composite produced with spot size of 2 mm exhibits higher microhardness and elastic modulus (1.9 GPa and 143.5 GPa respectively) than the corresponding ones for the counterpart with spot size of 4 mm (1.8 GPa and 142.6 GPa respectively) and Brass. As a result, the LPD-produced Cu90Fe10 immiscible composite deposited with spot size of 2 mm exhibits higher wear and corrosion resistance compared to that deposited with spot size of 4 mm.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is progressing in the development of a multi-megawatt class gyrotron for fusion plasma applications. After the successful experimental verification of the performance of the modular KIT 170 GHz, 2 MW short-pulse coaxial-cavity pre-prototype gyrotron with pulse lengths up to a few ms, the key gyrotron components have been upgraded by adding suitable cooling systems, keeping their previously validated scientific design. The new gyrotron construction allows the operation with pulses up to ~100 ms, however further increase of the pulse length is planned, after the installation of a diamond window and an improved collector. The basic upgrade of the individual components, the final assembly and the first experimental results are presented.

Since many years KIT is strongly involved in the development of high power gyrotrons for use in ECRH. KIT is pursuing two development lines: (i) the conventional, hollow cavity gyrotron and (ii) the coaxial cavity gyrotron. KIT is pushing conventional cavity gyrotrons from 1 MW to 1.5 MW in a common project with IPP Greifswald. Coaxial cavity technology having the advantage of higher power capability, in particular at higher frequency, is used for the 2 MW 170 GHz short-pulse prototype. This gyrotron is currently being upgraded to allow pulse extension up to approximately 100 ms and up to 1 s in a second step. For a future DEMOnstration fusion power plant two challenging trends with respect to gyrotron features are recognized: (a) the operating frequency will be above 200 GHz and (b) the requested total efficiency of the gyrotron should be higher than 60%. KIT is addressing these requirements by investigating both gyrotron technologies for their performance at a frequency well above 200 GHz. We started careful analysis of multi-staged-depressed collectors.

For the design of microwave tubes, precise electromagnetic simulations of the cold structures are of particular importance. In this paper, we present the importance of full-wave vector simulations for the analysis of components in microwave tubes, particularly in high-power gyro-devices. Full-wave vector simulations based on surface integral equations allow an accurate analysis of various structures. A fast solution of surface integral equations is provided by the recently developed advanced acceleration techniques. Simulations of quasi-optical mode converters in high-power gyrotrons, calculations of dispersion relations of gyrotron traveling-wave tubes with helical traveling wave structure and simulations of mirror systems are shown as examples for the wide range of applications of full wave vector simulations in the development of microwave tubes.

The first part of the experimental validation of the EU 1 MW, 170 GHz conventional (hollow-cavity) gyrotron for ITER was successfully completed at KIT. During this period two prototype tubes: (1) short-pulse (SP) gyrotron and (2) industrial continuous-wave (CW) gyrotron have been experimentally tested. The achieved RF output power was in range of 1 MW (SP) and 0.8 MW (CW) with a reasonable efficiency at pulse length up to 10 ms and 180 s, respectively. In order to study the possibility of further optimization of the gyrotron performance, additional experiments with the modified SP gyrotron setup are planned at KIT. The achieved results will be presented in this paper.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is doing research and development in the field of high power gyrotrons for W7-X, ITER, and, towards a future DEMOnstration fusion power plant. While the initial installation of the ECRH system at W7-X is finished and operating very successfully, KIT is still involved in the development of gyrotrons for ITER. This work is coordinated by F4E and ongoing in frame of EGYC. Moreover, as part of EUROfusion, KIT is investing in the research for advanced fusion gyrotrons of future EU DEMO. The target is to develop gyrotrons which will fulfil the need for RF sources operating at a frequency above 200 GHz, an RF output power above 2 MW and a total efficiency above 60 %. Aditionally, multi-purpose/multi-frequency operation and frequency step-tunability are requested. That requires the research and development on advanced gyrotrons, test environments and control techniques. This contribution provides a view over ongoing and planned activities in the field of gyrotron development at KIT.

A quasi-optical (q.o.) mode converter has been designed for the MW-level dual-frequency gyrotron which is under development for the upgrade of the electron cyclotron (EC) system of the TCV tokamak. The gyrotron design is essentially based on modifications of the W7-X gyrotron [1]. The launcher of the output coupler has been synthesized to adapt the geometry of the quasi-elliptical mirror with same size as in the W7-X gyrotron for both operating modes (TE17,5 @ 85GHz, TE26,7 @ 126GHz). The simulation results show that high conversion efficiencies and low stray radiations in the q.o. system can be achieved.

The proposed Divertor Test Tokamak, DTT, aims at studying power exhaust and divertor load in an integrated plasma scenario. Additional heating systems have the task to provide heating to reach a reactor relevant power flow in the SOL and guarantee the necessary PSEP/R together adequate plasma performances. About 40 MW of heating power are foreseen to have PSEP/R 15 MW/m. A mix of the three heating systems presently proposed for ITER has been chosen, assuring the necessary flexibility in scenario development. An ECRH system at 170 GHz will provide 10 MW at plasma for several tasks, such as: bulk electron heating to bring the plasma in the high confinement regime, current profile tailoring by localized CD, avoidance of impurity accumulation, MHD control and current ramp up and ramp down assistance. Together with the EC system, 15MW of ICRH (in the range 60-90MHz) will provide the remaining bulk plasma heating power, on both electrons and ions. ICRH, in minority scheme, will produce fast ions, with an isotropic perpendicular distribution, allowing the study of fast particle driven instabilities like alphas in D-T burning plasmas. The heating schemes foreseen in DTT are 33He and H minority as well as Deuterium 2ndnd harmonic. The addition of 15 MW of NBI, later in the project, could provide a mainly isotropic parallel fast ion distribution to simulate the alpha heating scheme of a reactor. The NBI primary aim is to support plasma heating during the flat top phase when the need of central power deposition and the minimization of the shine-through risk suggest a beam energy around 300 keV. In the first phase of the DTT project the available power will be at least 25 MW, to be increased during the lifetime of the machine.

ECRH&CD is one of the favorite heating system for magnetically confined nuclear fusion plasmas. KIT is strongly involved in the development of high power gyrotrons for use in ECRH systems for nuclear fusion. KIT is upgrading the sub-components of the existing 2 MW, 170 GHz coaxial-cavity short-pulse gyrotron to support long-pulse operation up to 1 s, all components will be equipped with a specific active cooling system. Two important developments for future high power, highly efficient gyrotrons will be discussed: design of gyrotrons with high operating frequency (∼ 240 GHz) and efficiency enhancement by using advanced collector designs with multi-staged voltage depression.

The upgrade of the EC-system of the TCV tokamak has entered in its realization phase and is part of a broader upgrade of TCV. The MW-class dual-frequency gyrotrons (84 or 126GHz/2s/1MW) are presently being manufactured by Thales Electron Devices with the first gyrotron foreseen to be delivered at SPC by the end of 2017. In parallel to the gyrotron development, for extending the level of operational flexibility of the TCV EC-system the integration of the dual-frequency gyrotrons adds a significant complexity in the evacuated 63.5mm-diameter HE11 transmission line system connected to the various TCV low-field side and top launchers. As discussed in [1], an important part of the present TCV-upgrade consists in inserting a modular closed divertor chamber. This will have an impact on the X3 top-launcher which will have to be reduced in size. For using the new compact launcher we are considering employing a Fast Directional Switch (FADIS), combining the two 1MW/126GHz/2s rf-beams into a single 2MW rf-beam.

The EU 1 MW, 170 GHz gyrotron with hollow cylindrical cavity have been designed within the European GYrotron Consortium (EGYC) in collaboration with the industrial partner Thales Electron Devices (TED) and under the coordination of Fusion for Energy (F4E). In the frame of the EU program, the short-pulse (SP) version of this tube was designed and manufactured by KIT in collaboration with TED. The experimental verification of the SP gyrotron prototype was successfully completed in 2015. The achieved experimental results show a very stable gyrotron operation with RF output power above 1 MW at good cavity interaction efficiency around 35%. The gyrotron was operated up to 10 ms pulse length; the nominal cavity mode TE32,9 has been excited at the frequency 170.1 GHz in agreement with the corresponding ITER specification. The Gaussian mode content of the output RF beam was about 98% and the total level of internal stray radiation was in the range of 2-3%. The manufacturing of the first industrial continuous-wave (CW) prototype gyrotron, based on the SP gyrotron design, was completed in November 2015 at TED. The tube was delivered to KIT and the experimental verification started in February 2016. Operation of the gyrotron with ms pulse duration resulted in stable excitation of the nominal mode at 170.22 GHz for a wide range of operating parameters and with a level of stray radiation comparable with the SP version. The maximum RF power achieved up to now in short-pulse operation at a level of 1 MW. The measured Gaussian mode content of the RF beam is 97%. Currently, further preparation for the CW operation of the gyrotron is in progress. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The EU 1 MW, 170 GHz gyrotron for ECH&CD on ITER has been developed by EGYC (European GYrotron Consortium) under the coordination of Fusion for Energy (F4E) and in cooperation with the industrial partner Thales Electron Devices (TED). The manufacturing of the first industrial continuous-wave (CW) prototype gyrotron, has been completed in November 2015 at TED. The tube was delivered to KIT and the experimental verification started in February 2016 in the short-pulse (SP) regime. Since October 2016 the gyrotron is in CW operation. In this work, details regarding the experiments at the KIT test-stand with pulses up to 180 s are presented.

The European 1 MW, 170 GHz CW industrial prototype gyrotron for ECRH&CD on ITER was under test at the KIT test facility during 2016. In order to optimize the gyrotron operation, the tube was thoroughly tested in the short-pulse regime, with pulse lengths below 10 ms, for a wide range of operational parameters. The operation was extended to longer pulses with a duration of up to 180 s. In this work we present in detail the achievements and the challenges that were faced during the long-pulse experimental campaign.

The 170 GHz 2 MW TE34,19-mode coaxial-cavity modular short-pulse pre-prototype gyrotron at KIT was recently modified in order to verify the multi-megawatt coaxial-cavity technology at longer pulses. In parallel, theoretical investigations on a possibility to operate the 170 GHz TE34,19-mode coaxial-cavity prototype at multiple frequencies up to 238 GHz have been started, with a goal to find a configuration at which the tube could operate in the KIT FULGOR gyrotron test facility using the new 10.5 T SC magnet. This paper indicates which adjustments have to be made and show the feasibility of the multi-frequency operation. Small modifications at the gyrotron cavity will support an RF output power of more than 2 MW at 170/204 GHz. Furthermore, a new gyrotron launcher has been designed capable of producing a Gaussian microwave beam with a Gaussian mode content of more than 96% at these frequencies.

During the ongoing pre-concept phase (2014 – 2020) for a possible future European DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO) the activities within EUROfusion WP HCD EC Gyrotron R&D and Advanced Developments are focusing on options for near-term solutions, and, at the same time, on long-term even more advanced options. The near-term target for DEMO is to realize pulsed operation. According to the current baseline it will probably use an EC system operating at 170 GHz and 204 GHz is being assessed, whereas the long-term target aims for steady-state operation and frequencies for current drive up to 240 GHz. Common targets for both are an RF output power per unit of significantly above 1 MW (target: 2 MW) and a total gyrotron efficiency of significantly higher than 60 %. Frequency step-tunability and multi-purpose/multi-frequency operation have to be considered. Those targets shall be achieved by considering the coaxial-cavity gyrotron technology and advanced technologies for key components (e.g. CVD diamond-disk Brewster angle window). Advanced simulation and test tools are complementing the research and developments. Gyrotron development is additionally supported by a significant investment into a new multi-megawatt long-pulse gyrotron test stand which is under final installation at KIT currently.

The upgrade of the electron cyclotron (EC) system of the TCV tokamak has entered in its realization phase. The MW-class dual-frequency gyrotron design (84 or 126GHz/2s), based on the 140GHz W7-X gyrotron, is finalized and a contract for the manufacturing of two units has been placed with Thales Electron Devices (TED). For maintaining a high level of operational flexibility of the EC-system the integration of the dual-frequency gyrotrons adds a significant complexity in the evacuated HE11 transmission line system connected to the various TCV low-field side and top launchers. Specific aspects of the gyrotrons design and their integration into the EC-system are described. The EC-system upgrade is an essential step of a larger extent upgrade of TCV.

An industrial 1 MW, 170 GHz continuous-wave (CW) gyrotron prototype has been manufactured in 2015 at Thales. The physical design is provided by the European GYrotron Consortium (EGYC) and is supported by the construction and the measurement of a modular short-pulse (SP) prototype. In this presentation, the latest experimental results are discussed, with respect to the previous results acquired for the modular SP prototype gyrotron.

In the frame of a collaborative effort between the European GYrotron Consortium (EGYC), the European domestic agency Fusion for Energy (F4E) and the Industrial partner Thales Electron Devices (TED), the first continuous wave (CW) prototype of the EU gyrotron for the ITER Electron Cyclotron Heating system has been manufactured by TED and delivered to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) by end of 2015, where it will be tested up to pulse lengths of 180 s before being studied up to CW operation at Swiss Plasma Center (SPC, formerly CRPP) in Lausanne. The experimental campaign started early 2016. So far, the tube has been operated in ms pulses, allowing a detailed characterization and an extensive parametric study. It has been shown that the tube operates stably in the design mode up to the MW level and that the output beam profile has a high Gaussian content, compliant with the ITER requirements. This paper will report on the recent experimental results.

A 2-MW, continuous wave, TE34,19 mode, 170-GHz coaxial cavity gyrotron for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is under development within the European GYrotron Consortium (EGYC). This paper presents the improved design of the quasi-optical mode converter for this gyrotron. The simulation results show that with the improved quasi-optical mode converter, the fundamental Gaussian mode content of the rf beam can be enhanced to 99.1% at the output window plane and the stray radiation in the quasi-optical mode converter could be decreased to 1.2%.