Modeling the thermodynamic response of metallic first walls during a plasma disruption

The results indicate that vaporized wall material moves rapidly into the plasma and interaction of the plasma with this vapor produces intense thermal radiation from the vapor. The consequence is a burst of energy deposition on the wall and rapid plasma thermal quench. The significance of these results is the indication of a process that intensifies the rate of energy deposition from a plasma disruption and consequently the extent of wall erosion. Because of assumptions required in the model, the predictions should be considered as approximate. The numerical results are sensitive to the rate of vapor expansion into the plasma and the rate of thermal radiation from the vapor. In future work, models for these processes will be refined. (orig.)