Materials for Inertial Fusion Reactors

The lack of materials capable of withstanding the extreme operational conditions in fusion reactors is one of the major challenges to harnessing thermonuclear fusion for energy production. For both Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) and Magnetic Fusion Energy (MFE) reactors, it is indispensable to develop materials more resistant to irradiation and thermal loads, while determining their operational limits. The Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on "Pathways to Energy from Inertial Fusion: Materials beyond Ignition", conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 2015 to 2019, brought together 18 experts from 13 Member States. Through joint research programmes, this CRP provided an assessment of the irradiation conditions from target burning, material requirements, consequences and characteristic behaviors in pulsed, repetitively cycled IFE systems. The proposed special issue will feature the most prominent results on structuring materials, laser drivers and target fabrication technologies that have been achieved and developed in the framework of this CRP by four groups. This will be an opportunity to present the materials research and development of interest for both IFE and MFE communities.

Guest Editors: Prof. J. Manuel Perlado (Universidad Politécnica Madrid); Dr. Matteo Barbarino (IAEA); Prof. Vladimir T. Tokhonchuk (University of Bordeaux)