Submitted by Robo-Connery t3_zl56h9 in science
LeftyDan t1_j07r35v wrote
Random question:
Reading that reactors are designed to operate at 100 million Kelvin (180million °F) what material are they using to withstand that amount of heat?
Robo-Connery OP t1_j07uasl wrote
So I assume you are talking about magnetic devices: the core temperature is a lot higher than the outer edges but the answer is, nothing. No material can withstand those temperatures plus if you did let your plasma touch an outer wall it would cool down. So that's why they contain the plasma with magnets, this holds it away from the walls (which are either carbon in old machines or beryllium/tungsten in new machines) and stops it from destroying the vacuum vessel.
Even then though when there are large instabilities or runaway electron beams the walls get damaged sometimes.
LeftyDan t1_j0dgvep wrote
Thanks for the explanation.
mcchanical t1_j0a28a4 wrote
The plasma doesn't touch the walls in an inertial confinement device. It's held in place by superconducting magnets, so the walls are nowhere near that temperature.
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