Electron beams in material testing for fusion reactors

The Plasma Material Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratory is currently involved in a multi-year program of thermally testing materials and high heat flux components for eventual use in fusion reactors. The major test system in the facility is the EB-1200 System, which uses two EH600S Von Ardenne electron guns to provide up to 1.2 MW of heating for large material samples and components. In this paper, the advantages of using electron guns for this type of testing will be discussed. Gun performance characteristics will be presented, as well as electronic techniques used to provide the rapidly varying power levels and complex scan patterns required for complicated targets. Diagnostic capabilities of importance to the experimental program will also be discussed