Effect of intermittent He/D ion irradiations on W nano-fuzz growth over W targets

The intermittent He/D ion irradiations of polycrystalline W have been performed at the ion energy of 50 eV by changing the time of the single irradiations and the irradiation temperature. All irradiated W specimens have been observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the effect of intermittent He/D ion irradiations on the W fuzz growth has been analyzed. The W fuzz growth over W targets does not show the clear dependence on the intermittent He/D ion irradiations, where the He/D ion fluence of the single irradiations typically varies from 5.0 × 1024 to 2.5 × 1025/m2. However, a slight change in the W surface temperature during the single He ion irradiations significantly affects the W fuzz growth rate. Analysis indicates that W fuzz growth is significantly affected by the total He ion fluence varying from 5.0 × 1024 to 5.0 × 1025/m2 and the irradiation temperature varying from 1100 to 1450 K. This current study will play a crucial role in understanding the W fuzz growth under the periodic He/D ion irradiations of W divertor in fusion reactors, such as ELMs. •The intermittent He/D ion irradiations have no effect on W nano-fuzz growth under ITER-revelant He/D ion irradiations.•W fuzz growth is significantly affected by the total He ion fluence and the irradiation temperature.•Analysis indicates that during the plasma-off, the W nano-fuzz will not grow.