Fiber-Optic Bolometers for Fusion Plasma Diagnostics

Bolometers are widely used in fusion devices for measurement of plasma radiation. They are essential for energy balance estimate, exhaust control, disruption mitigation, and study of plasma instability. Existing bolometers are electronic devices whose performance degrades significantly in the harsh fusion environment characterized by the presence of strong electromagnetic interference, high temperature, vibration, and strong radiation. This SBIR project is aimed at the commercialization of novel fiber-optic bolometers (FOBs) that can meet the challenges. In the Phase I and Phase II project, Nusenics has established a streamlined sensor fabrication and packaging process suitable for future product manufacturing, enhanced the system performance in terms of sensitivity, response time, measurement speed, and radiation hardness, and tested the system performance in vacuum and radiation environment relevant to fusion applications. In the Phase II project, Nusenices has also revealed a few engineering challenges for future fusion devices with higher radiation levels and elevated temperatures. The Phase IIA project will continue the research and development to address these challenges and transform the technology into a viable product. Specifically, Nusenics will use improved sensor designs, optimize the fabrication process, perform more thorough testing on the sensors, develop a prototype system, and work with potential customers for prototype testing and evaluation. Thermal fusion has the enormous potential of providing immense energy with no emission of greenhouse gases and minimum waste. Commercialization of FOBs will provide the fusion community with a critically important tool for the development and operation of fusion devices.