One plentiful source of energy is thermonuclear fusion, which is the same source of energy that our sun has been using for billions of years. To achieve nuclear fusion we need to heat and confine Deuterium and Tritium atoms (heavy hydrogen) so that they can overcome the repulsive Coulomb forces. Plasmas have to be generated and heated to high temperatures by auxiliary systems. Several concepts have been developed that can help heat and drive fusion plasmas. For example, radio frequency waves in ion cyclotron, lower hybrid, and electron cyclotron frequencies, as well as neutral beam injection.

In the present work we are interested on improving the reliability and maximum power transferred by ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) radio frequency (RF) antennas. ICRF antennas are the type of antennas that will be used in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) to help drive and heat the plasma. It has been found that the power launched with an ICRF antenna is proportional to the square of the voltage on the antenna. We are therefore interested on applying the highest possible voltage without producing arcing (breakdown) in the antenna.

Microprotrusions can be produced in metallic surface using a combination of temperature and high electric fields (build-up). These microprotrusions are concentration field points that induce arcing which seriously degrade RF antenna performance in present day fusion reactors. Because a surface electric field is in principle a thermodynamic variable, like P or T, we are researching the possibility of using these concentrated electric fields to induce chemical reactions that can either cover protrusions with high work function materials (p.e. halogens, polymers) or etch protrusions away as they form, preventing arcing and breakdown. DC experiments are being performed in the University of Illinois, as well as high power RF experiments in Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).