• 22 June 2009:

Magnum-PSI project reaches second major milestone

Researchers and engineers at the Dutch FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen have reached the second major milestone in the construction of the plasma wall experiment Magnum-PSI. They completed the construction of the complete plasma source system with cooling, gas feed, control and data acquisition, power supplies and safety system. On 18 June, the first plasma was made in Magnum-PSI which showed excellent operation of the entire system.

The third major milestone, the installation and testing of the superconducting magnet system is scheduled for November 2009. The completion of the construction of Magnum-PSI is planned for end 2009, and high-level commissioning and first experiments are expected to start early 2010.

The Magnum-PSI experiment is a linear device which is specifically designed to study plasma-wall interactions in the strongly coupled ITER relevant regime. It will allow scientists to create plasma conditions of their choice and use a range of wall materials. The effect of the plasma on the wall materials can be studied in situ with a variety of advanced diagnostic tools.

Further information on Magnus-PSI can be found in the 2009 May issue of Fusion News.