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Plasma-facing materials (PFMs) represent one of the most significant challenges for the design of future nuclear fusion reactors. Inside the reactor, the divertor will experience the harshest material environment: intense bombardment of neutrons and plasma particles coupled with large and intermittent heat fluxes. The material designated to cover this role in ITER is tungsten (W). While no other materials have shown the potential to match the properties of W, many drawbacks associated with its application remain, including: cracking and erosion induced by a low recrystallization temperature combined with a high ductile-brittle transition temperature and neutron-initiated embrittlement; surface morphology changes (fuzz layer) due to plasma-W interaction with subsequent risk of spontaneous material melting and delamination; low oxidation resistance. This work aims to produce a structured and comprehensive materials screening of PFMs candidates based on known inorganic materials. The methodology applied in this study to identify the most promising PFM candidates combines peer-reviewed data present in the Pauling File database and DFT calculations of two key PFMs defects, namely the surface binding energy and the formation energy of a hydrogen interstitial. The crystal structures and their related properties, extracted from the Pauling File, are ranked according to the heat-balance equation of a PFM subject to the heat loads in the divertor region of an ITER-like tokamak. The materials satisfying the requirements are critically compared with the state-of-the-art literature, defining an optimal subset where to perform the first-principles electronic structure calculations. The majority of previously known PFMs are captured by this screening process, confirming its reliability. Additionally, less familiar refractory materials suggest performance that calls for further investigations.

We present an acceleration method for sequences of large-scale linear systems, such as the ones arising from the numerical solution of time-dependent partial differential equations coupled with algebraic constraints. We discuss different approaches to leverage the subspace containing the history of solutions computed at previous time steps in order to generate a good initial guess for the iterative solver. In particular, we propose a novel combination of reduced-order projection with randomized linear algebra techniques, which drastically reduces the number of iterations needed for convergence. We analyze the accuracy of the initial guess produced by the reduced-order projection when the coefficients of the linear system depend analytically on time. Extending extrapolation results by Demanet and Townsend to a vector-valued setting, we show that the accuracy improves rapidly as the size of the history increases, a theoretical result confirmed by our numerical observations. In particular, we apply the developed method to the simulation of plasma turbulence in the boundary of a fusion device, showing that the time needed for solving the linear systems is significantly reduced.

The effect of triangularity on tokamak boundary plasma turbulence is investigated by using global, flux-driven, three-dimensional, two-fluid simulations. The simulations show that negative triangularity stabilizes boundary plasma turbulence, and linear investigations reveal that this is due to a reduction of the magnetic curvature drive of interchange instabilities, such as the resistive ballooning mode. As a consequence, the pressure decay length $L_p$, related to the SOL power fall-off length $\lambda_q$, is found to be affected by triangularity. Leveraging considerations on the effect of triangularity on the linear growth rate and nonlinear evolution of the resistive ballooning mode, the analytical theory-based scaling law for $L_p$ in L-mode plasmas, derived by Giacomin \textit{et al.} [{Nucl. Fusion}, \href{https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/abf8f6}{\textbf{61} 076002} (2021)], is extended to include the effect of triangularity. The scaling is in agreement with nonlinear simulations and a multi-machine experimental database, which include recent TCV discharges dedicated to the study of the effect of triangularity in L-mode diverted discharges. Overall, the present results highlight that negative triangularity narrows the $L_p$ and considering the effect of triangularity is important for a reliable extrapolation of $\lambda_q$ from present experiments to larger devices., Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

The inverse source problem in electromagnetics has proved quite relevant for a large class of applications. In antenna diagnostics in particular, Love solutions are often sought at the cost of an increase of the dimension of the linear system to be solved. In this work, instead, we present a reduced-in-size single current formulation of the inverse source problem that obtains one of the Love currents via a stable discretization of the Steklov-Poincar\'e boundary operator leveraging dual functions. The new approach is enriched by theoretical treatments and by a further low-frequency stabilization of the Steklov-Poincar\'e operator based on the quasi-Helmholtz projectors that is the first of its kind in this field. The effectiveness and practical relevance of the new schemes are demonstrated via both theoretical and numerical results.

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) based on Steady State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs) have proven effective and provide significant accuracy and information-transfer rates. This family of strategies, however, requires external devices that provide the frequency stimuli required by the technique. This limits the scenarios in which they can be applied, especially when compared to other BCI approaches. In this work, we have investigated the possibility of obtaining frequency responses in the EEG output based on the pure visual imagination of SSVEP-eliciting stimuli. Our results show that not only that EEG signals present frequency-specific peaks related to the frequency the user is focusing on, but also that promising classification accuracy can be achieved, paving the way for a robust and reliable visual imagery BCI modality.

This work focuses on a quasi-linear-in-complexity strategy for a hybrid surface-wire integral equation solver for the electroencephalography forward problem. The scheme exploits a block diagonally dominant structure of the wire self block -- that models the neuronal fibers self interactions -- and of the surface self block -- modeling interface potentials. This structure leads to two Neumann iteration schemes further accelerated with adaptive integral methods. The resulting algorithm is linear up to logarithmic factors. Numerical results confirm the performance of the method in biomedically relevant scenarios.

Several strategies are available for solving the inverse source problem in electromagnetics. Among them, many have been focusing in retrieving Love currents by solving, after regularization, for Love's electric and magnetic currents. In this work we present a dual-element discretization, analysis, and stabilization of an inverse source formulation providing Love data by solving for only one current. This results in substantial savings and allows for an effective quasi-Helmholtz projector stabilization of the resulting operator. Theoretical considerations are complemented by numerical tests showing effectiveness and efficiency of the newly proposed method.

An extension of the Laplace transform obtained by using the Laguerre-type exponentials is first shown. Furthermore, the solution of the Blissard problem by means of the Bell polynomials, gives the possibility to associate to any numerical sequence a Laplace-type transform depending on that sequence. Computational techniques for the corresponding transform of analytic functions, involving Bell polynomials, are derived., Comment: 17 pages

The results of flux-driven, two-fluid simulations in single-null configurations are used to investigate the processes determining the turbulent transport in the tokamak edge. Three turbulent transport regimes are identified: (i) a developed transport regime with turbulence driven by an interchange instability, which shares a number of features with the standard L-mode of tokamak operation, (ii) a suppressed transport regime, characterized by a higher value of the energy confinement time, low-amplitude relative fluctuations driven by a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, a strong E x B sheared flow, and the formation of a transport barrier, which recalls the H-mode, and (iii) a degraded confinement regime, characterized by a catastrophically large interchange-driven turbulent transport, which reminds the crossing of the Greenwald density limit.We derive an analytical expression of the pressure gradient length in the three regimes. The transition from the developed to the suppressed transport regime is obtained by increasing the heat source or decreasing the collisionality and vice versa for the transition from the developed transport regime to the degraded confinement regime. An analytical expression of the power threshold to access the suppressed transport regime, linked to the power threshold for H-mode access, as well as the maximum density achievable before entering the degraded confinement regime, related to the Greenwald density, are also derived. The experimental dependencies of the power threshold for H-mode access on density, tokamak major radius, and isotope mass are retrieved. The analytical estimate of the density limit contains the correct dependence on the plasma current and on the tokamak minor radius.