Detection Solutions For Fusion Science

Fusion plasma characterisation is essential for the development of nuclear fusion, an almost unlimited, clean and renewable energy source that could help the world achieve net-zero goals. However, nuclear fusion requires high-sensitivity and high-speed detection solutions that can operate in challenging environments, such as those found in Z-pinch Fusion, Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), Stellarator and Tokomak reactors. Andor’s portfolio of intensified gated cameras, direct detection X-ray cameras, high speed sCMOS cameras and spectrographs is designed to meet these needs and provide a wide range of fusion diagnostics solutions.

Plasma Imaging and Spectroscopy
Soft and Hard X-ray Imaging
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES)

Fusion Science Detection Solutions

Whether you need imaging or spectroscopy, Andor has the right solution for you. Andor’s cameras and spectrographs are highly sensitive and versatile, with a variety of opto-mechanical interfaces, triggering and acquisition setup options to suit your needs. Andor’s cameras offer tailored solutions from the Near-Infrared to hard X-rays.

iStar
sCMOS

49 frames/sec (5.5 MP sensor) Up to 4 kHz with ROI
<2 ns time resolution
High dynamic range
Sensitivity down to single photon

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Direct & Indirect X-ray Detection

Large area sCMOS and CCD cameras
Lens and fibre coupled scintillator options
Direct and indirect detection
High dynamic range & sensitivity

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Kymera Spectrographs, Newton and iXon Cameras

High sensitivity optical spectrographs
Up to Multi-kHz spectral rates
High throughput and high spectral resolution
Highly modular spectrographs

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Fusion Science Applications and Techniques

Plasma Diagnostics

Plasmas are ionised gases that can be created naturally or artificially by an injection of energy. This can be achieved through different methods such as laser ablation or coupling of capacitive / inductive power source to ionised gas. Plasmas have many applications in fields such as fusion, thin films deposition, micro-electronics, material (chemical) characterisation, display systems, surface treatment, fundamental physics, environmental & health.

Gated detectors, such as the iStar sCMOS and iStar CCD can be used to determine optical parameters from which fundamental plasma properties can be derived. Accurate nanosecond-scale gating of image intensifier-based detectors can be used to sample plasma dynamics, or to isolate the useful plasma information generated by pulsed sources such as lasers. Techniques for plasma analysis include Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) and Thomson scattering. From this analysis plasma parameter such as temperature and electron density can be measured optically.

X-Ray Imaging

Plasmas emit a broad spectrum of photon energies including in the soft and hard X-ray range. X-ray images can be acquired either through direct absorption of X-rays onto a 2D silicon-based camera sensors, for energies <20 keV, or using scintillators lens or fibre coupled to a CCD or sCMOS detector.

Our range of X-rays cameras can be used to identify the fine structure of chemical species as well as understanding material composition which is not possible in the visible range.

LIBS

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) provides information on the elemental/chemical composition of samples, through the analysis of the plasma emission resulting from the micro-ablation of the target by a pulsed laser. It can be used to grade metals, measure concentration or ratios of elements in different engineered materials, as well as identify impurities or trapped species in material matrix e.g. adsorbed species in fusion reactors/tokamaks plasma-facing components.

Echelle spectrographs combined with fast gated ICCDs are particularly well suited to LIBS analysis, as they provide simultaneously high spectral resolution and very large spectral bandpass up to hundreds of nanometres.

Raman

This non-invasive laser scattering-based spectroscopy technique provides molecular information (composition, structure) about the sample. It can be used to assess the effect of material matrix disruption due to a variety of external factors e.g. temperature changes/shock, mechanical stress, or to identify and understand the impact of impurities, adsorbed molecules, or defects on the material mechanical characteristics. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS) can be used to non-invasively measure the temperature of plasmas.

For organic materials, Raman signal competes with fluorescence from the sample - a near-infrared laser or UV laser (with wavelength outside the absorption range of the molecule) can be used to greatly minimise or supress unwanted fluorescence contribution.

Publications

Author	Title	Year
T Minniti et al	Strain mapping and defects inspection of divertor targets by Bragg edge neutron imaging and neutron tomography	2025
M Shabbir et al	Helium retention feature in the boron deposited layer on tungsten substrate by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and machine learning approach	2024
Z Mei et al	Performance studies of an ultrafast gamma Cherenkov imaging Screen based on Silica fibers array	2024
C Goyon et al	Plasma pressure profiles in a sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch	2024
C Swee et al	Impurity transport study based on measurement of visible wavelength high-n charge exchange transitions at W7-X	2024
S Atikukke	Resonant Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for quantitative elemental depth profile analysis of WTa coating	2024
C Zhang et al	Development of a monochromatic crystal backlight imager for the recent double-cone ignition experiments	2024
S Shetty et al	Depth profile CF LIBS analysis of the wall deposited layer in the COMPASS tokamak after LiSn testing campaign	2023
I Jogi et al	Ex Situ LIBS Analysis of WEST Divertor Wall Tiles after C3 Campaign	2023
S Malko et al	Proton stopping measurements at low velocity in warm dense carbon	2022

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