Diffusion Bonded Windows for Diagnostics of Fusion Plasmas

At Culham the technique of diffusion bonding has been developed for joining optically transparent materials to metal housings to make windows for fusion plasma experiments. These windows are used for optical access to the plasma chamber both for viewing the natural emissions of the plasma in the ultra violet to the infra-red wavelength range and for the use of probing laser beams. The windows have the advantage of ultra high vacuum capability with prolonged high temperature service and are used on machines such as JET (Joint European Torus located at Culham) and other large plasma machines around the world.