Impact of Soret effect on hydrogen and helium retention in PFC tungsten under ELM-like conditions

Abstract In our previous work, we have demonstrated using nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics simulations that the fluxes of helium and self-interstitial atoms in presence a thermal gradient tungsten are directed opposite to heat flux, indicating species transport is governed by Soret effect, namely, thermal-gradient-driven diffusion, characterized negative drives uphill, i.e. from cooler hot regions sample. this findings analysis been implemented cluster-dynamics code, Xolotl, which has used compute temperature profiles over spatiotemporal scales representative plasma-facing component (PFC) under typical reactor operating conditions, including extreme loads at surface characteristic plasma instabilities induce edge localized modes (ELMs). We demonstrate steady-state profiles, when properly accounting for vary significantly those where temperature-gradient-driven not accounted discuss implications such effect on response exposure tungsten. Although do yet include self-clustering or hydrogen blister formation, simulation results show substantially reduces hydrogenic retention inside PFC