An analysis of aluminum as radiating impurity using SOLPS-ITER

Liquid-metal targets have several potential benefits over tungsten. Erosion and melting are less of an issue because the liquid metal flows across the target; repairing damage done by the incident plasma. LTX-β has conducted experiments with liquid lithium. Other proposed liquid metals, such as an aluminum-tin alloy with aluminum segregated to the surface facing the plasma (so the sputtering is almost entirely low-Z material and aluminum is not the metal on the substrate), have planned experiments at Penn State University's Radiation Surface Science and Engineering Laboratory. It is therefore of interest to analyze the radiating properties of these metals as their non-recycling nature may cause the radiation profiles to differ from traditional impurities. For this, SOLPS-ITER simulations of a spherical tokamak geometry were performed with deuterium, oxygen, and aluminum, as well as deuterium and neon for the comparison with a traditional impurity. The oxygen puff is needed for the segregation of the aluminum from the tin and to increase radiation as needed.