Laser pulse simulation of high energy transient thermal loads on bulk and plasma sprayed W for NFR

W is a plasma-facing material candidate for applications in future nuclear fusion reactors (NFR). In this work transient thermal loads of high energy have been simulated by interaction with a single laser pulse. The experiments have been carried out by using the Nd:Glass TVLPS laser working in first harmonic (wavelength λ = 1064 nm); the pulse parameters are: energy E ≈ 8 J, pulse duration Δt ≈ 15 ns, focal spot size Φ = 200 μm, surface power density on the focal plane I = 1.7 x 1012 W/cm2. The damage produced by the laser pulse on the surface of bulk and plasma sprayed W has been investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations. The preliminary results will be presented.