A team of researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology’s Tritium Laboratory (TLK) has successfully commissioned a new experiment aimed at studying the thermodynamic properties and dynamic behavior of hydrogen isotopologues at cryogenic temperatures and high densities. The team, led by Joshua Kohpeiß and including Dominic Batzler, Beate Bornschein, Lutz Bornschein, Robin Größle, Daniel Kurz, Ralph Lietzow, Alexander Marsteller, Michael Sturm, and Stefan Welte, has developed the Tritium Absorption InfraRed Spectroscopy 2 (T2ApIR) experiment to investigate the behavior of hydrogen isotopologues (Q2) in various phases, ortho/para states, temperatures (10 K – 300 K), and pressures (up to 2.5 bar a) using optical methods, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy.
The T2ApIR experiment is housed in a fully tritium-compatible cryostat, which includes an optical cell, ortho/para converter, and windows for optical and spectroscopic studies. The cryostat can be cooled below the hydrogen triple point by a two-stage cryocooler and contains openings in the cryogenic shielding for optical access. The design of the experiment was challenging due to the need to combine scientific requirements with high amounts of tritium (14 g) in a limited space while maintaining TLK safety philosophy. The researchers have successfully overcome these challenges and are ready to integrate the experiment fully into the TLK closed-loop tritium infrastructure.
The commissioning phase of the experimental facility involved comprehensive tests, including cryogenic performance tests, commissioning experiments with non-radioactive gases, and tests of the analytical instruments. The results of these tests have been reported in a recent contribution, which provides an overview of the commissioning phase and the first commissioning experiments. The research was published in the journal Fusion Engineering and Design.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are significant, particularly in the field of fusion energy. Hydrogen isotopologues, such as tritium and deuterium, are essential fuels for fusion reactions. Understanding their thermodynamic properties and dynamic behavior at cryogenic temperatures and high densities is crucial for the development of efficient and safe fusion reactors. The T2ApIR experiment will provide valuable data to support the design and operation of future fusion energy systems, contributing to the ongoing efforts to make fusion energy a viable and sustainable source of power.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.