Thomson scattering diagnostics in the Globus-M tokamak

Specific features of the Thomson scattering diagnostics, its main characteristics and capabilities, and the results of its experimental testing in the Globus-M tokamak are described. A powerful multipulse neodymium-glass laser is designed for investigating both fast and slow processes in the tokamak plasma. The laser is capable of generating up to 20 pulses uniformly distributed in time during one tokamak discharge. In order to investigate fast transient processes, the laser repetition rate can be increased within a specified time interval. The possibility of varying the time interval between laser pulses from 0.5 ms to 1.0 s makes this diagnostics highly informative. The optical scheme developed in the course of these studies allowed one to simplify the power supply system and create a comparatively inexpensive laser system. The use of avalanche photodiodes and filtering polychromators with a high optical transparency provides high sensitivity of the diagnostics. A special software was designed that allows automatic processing of several hundred signals during one shot and provides data on the electron density and temperature immediately in the course of measurements. The diagnostics allows one to trace the time behavior of the spatial profiles of the electron temperature and density in both ohmic discharges and discharges with auxiliary heating, as well as in experiments with particle injection with a plasma gun.     

Magnetic diagnostics on the CASTOR tokamak

Plasma position and Shafranov eccentricity factor is measured on the CASTOR tokamak using magnetic probes. Evolution of eccentricity factor is illustrated on discharge with auxiliary non-inductive current-drive by lower hybrid waves.Author thanks to Dr. Kopecký for his support. The members of the CASTOR group are gratefully acknowledged, especially Dr. Kryka for his introduction into the CAMAC operation.     

To the theory of cyclotron instability due to circulating alpha particles in a tokamak reactor

It is shown that the cyclotron excitation of fast magnetosonic waves by circulating α-particles in a tokamak reactor is possible. The general expression for the growth rate of such an excitation is obtained. The influence of the thermal motion of α-particles and background plasma damping on the growth rate is elucidated. Equations of the quasilinear relaxation of α-particles due to corresponding instability are obtained and analyzed. It is shown that, as a result of this relaxation, a spreading of the energetic spectrum of α-particles takes place, which is faster than that due to Coulomb collision. It is found that the quasilinear relaxation has a pulsating character and is accompanied by periodically repeating splashes of oscillations at harmonics of the cyclotron frequency of α-particles.     

Modernized active spectroscopic diagnostics (CXRS) of the T-10 tokamak

This work presents the results of modernization of the CXRS (charge exchange recombination spectroscopy) diagnostics [1] at the T-10 tokamak. The relevance of this work is due to the importance of measurements of the ion temperature and nuclei density of the working gas and impurities for analysis of transport processes in the plasma ion component. Measurements of radial profiles of the ion temperature are extremely important for investigating the geodesic acoustic mode behavior which is conducted at the T-10 [2]. The modernized scheme of CXRS measurements, as well as the design and operational features of the spectrometer created for the new diagnostics, is described. Principles of data recording and further processing are considered in detail; attention is given to the problem of calibration of the whole complex of equipment. The performed changes in diagnostics allow the measurements to be taken simultaneously in three spectral intervals: in the region of the beam line H_α, the CXRS line of carbon ion C⁵⁺, and the CXRS line of one of the hydrogen-like ions: He¹⁺, Li²⁺, N⁶⁺, O⁷⁺ or Ne⁹⁺. This makes it possible to measure the density profiles of two plasma impurities simultaneously, as well as the ion temperature from CXRS lines of different elements. The modernized diagnostics significantly broadens the possibilities of studying the physics of transport processes and quasi-coherent modes of plasma oscillations at the T-10.     

Geodesic mode spectrum modified by the energetic particles in tokamak plasmas

Effect of a minor concentration of the energetic particles on GAM spectrum in a tokamak is analyzed by drift kinetic theory taking into the account the electron current and diamagnetic drift. A novel method of Jacobi functions is applied to solve the drift kinetic equation for the energetic bounce particles in the limit of high bounce frequency in comparison with the GAM frequency. Using the Q-asymptotic of Jacobi function, it is shown that the energetic minority ions can form the continuum minimum/maximum at the NB or ICR power deposition maximum where the geodesic eigenmode may be excited. In this case, the electron current modeled by shifted Maxwell distribution overcomes the ion Landau damping threshold thus resulting in the GAM instability.     

Third adiabatic invariant and the collisionless distribution function of particles in a tokamak

It has been shown that the distribution function of an ensemble of particles with a given energy in a collisionless regime in a tokamak is formed as a function primarily of the third adiabatic invariant, particularly in the near-axis region. In the periphery of the plasma column, the contribution of the toroidal component of the canonical momentum/longitudinal adiabatic invariant to the distribution function becomes noticeable. The coordinate dependence of the ensemble distribution function in the velocity space is determined predominantly by the trajectories of charged particles.     

Experimental and modeling researches of dust particles in the HL-2A tokamak

The investigation of dust particle characteristics in fusion devices has become more and more imperative.In the HL-2A tokamak,the morphologies and compositions of dust particles are analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(EDX) with mapping.The results indicate that the sizes of dust particles are in a range from 1 μm to 1 mm.Surprisingly,stainless steel spheres with a diameter of 2.5μm-30 μm are obtained.The production mechanisms of dust particles include flaking,disintegration,agglomeration,and arcing.In addition,dynamic characteristics of the flaking dust particles are observed by a CMOS fast framing camera and simulated by a computer program.Both of the results display that the ion friction force is dominant in the toroidal direction,while the centrifugal force is crucial in the radial direction.Therefore,the visible dust particles are accelerated toriodally by the ion friction force and migrated radially by the centrifugal force.The averaged velocity of the grain is on the order of~100 m/s.These results provide an additional supplement for one of critical plasma-wall interaction(PWI) issues in the framework of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER) programme.     

A DC probe diagnostics for fast electron temperature measurements in tokamak edge plasmas

The tunnel probe is a new kind of Langmuir probe for use in the tokamak scrape-off layer. It provides simultaneous measurements of electron temperature and parallel ion current density with high frequency at the same point in space. We describe ongoing work to characterize the ion flows within the probe, and to calibrate the diagnostics using 2D kinetic simulations. Presented at 5th Workshop “Role of Electric Fields in Plasma Confinement and Exhaust”, Montreus, Seitzerland, June 23–24, 2002.     

Influence of weak electrostatic perturbations on the trajectories of circulating particles in a tokamak magnetic field

The influence of weak electrostatic perturbations on the trajectories of circulating particles in a tokamak magnetic field is analyzed. The parameters of the trajectories calculated in the drift approximation allow one to determine the spatial scale of diffusion. The resonant interaction between particles and waves is considered. The possibility of the emergence of collisionless diffusion in the strong turbulence regime is analyzed.     

Ikeda diagram within the model of binding alpha particles

A model of nuclear matter built from alpha particles is proposed. In this model, nuclei have a molecule-like structure. By analyzing the number of bonds, one gets a formula for the binding energy of the nucleus. The structure is determined by the minimum of the potential energy, where interactions between alpha particles are pairwise. The calculated binding energies show good agreement with experiment. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Mobilization of tungsten dust by electric forces and its bearing on tritiated particles in the ITER tokamak

Experimental investigations on the electric field strength required to overcome the adhesion forces of micron size tungsten metallic dust as well as silver and aluminum oxide in powdery form deposited on a conductive surface are presented. The results reveal a strong influence of particulate surface properties on the detachment threshold, especially for tungsten particles which exhibit a thin surface oxide layer that screens their electrical conductivity. Such tungsten particles makes possible that electrostatic self-charging occurs when tritiated because of their dielectric properties even if there are deposited on a conductive grounded surface.     

Application of wide-aperture resonators with small diffraction loss to diagnostics of a tokamak plasma by the laser photoionization technique

To increase the sensitivity of the photoionization diagnostics, efficient laser systems for plasma probing are developed based on stable resonator configurations with small diffraction loss. The systems meet the requirements for multipass intracavity probing and make it possible to increase the resonator length to conform to a large size of the tokamak chamber. Demonstration experiments were carried out in the FT-1 tokamak. The results obtained confirm the possibility of reliable measurements of the hydrogen neutral density in the range 10⁸–10⁹ cm⁻³ in tokamak plasmas.     

Electroproduction of alpha particles from various nuclei

Alpha particles from the electrodistintegration of six nuclei with Z between 29 and 73 have been observed. Energy spectra at 50° in the lab for all six nuclei and angular distributions for copper and thulium have been measured. The cross sections exhibit a broad peak whose magnitude decreases with increasing Z; the energy of the peak increases as Z increases. The copper angular distributions are isotropic, but the thulium distributions show strong forward peaking above 16 MeV. This peaking is taken as possible evidence of the existence of α-clusters in this nucleus.     

Study of the response of silicon detectors for alpha particles

Numerous radon measurements are carried out using silicon detectors directly in the environment. This new kind of alpha radiation measurement has been developed because the reduced cost makes it possible to replace the usual plastic track detectors. At our laboratory, an alpha particle detector has been designed from a commercial silicon photodiode. This type of detector can determine the device response perfectly in any kind of environment. Different spectrum analyses have been conducted in the laboratory and field to define the exact origin of counted alpha particles. We studied the response for different radon and thoron concentration levels and observed the energy of the detected alpha particles. We carried out some of these experiments with gas flux, and some without, to show the effects of interactions with surfaces to obtain thermodynamic equilibrium in the detection chamber. Finally, the silicon diodes that we tested measure the alpha particles of the decay products (polonium) from the radon and the thoron, but very weakly from the gases themselves. Thus, it is possible to make mistakes when measuring the radon if the count of alpha particles is performed without spectrum analysis. One reason for this is that the decay progenies of the radon are solid radio-elements with thermodynamic proprieties different from gases.     

Experimental and theoretical study of quasicoherent fluctuations in enhanced D(alpha) plasmas in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak

A comparison of experimental measurements and theoretical studies of the quasicoherent (QC) mode, observed at high densities during enhanced D(alpha) (EDA) H mode in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, are reported. The QC mode is a high frequency ( approximately 100 kHz) nearly sinusoidal fluctuation in density and magnetic field, localized in the steep density gradient ("pedestal") at the plasma edge, with typical wave numbers k(R) approximately 3-6 cm(-1), k(theta) approximately 1.3 cm(-1) (midplane). It is proposed here that the QC mode is a form of resistive ballooning mode known as the resistive X-point mode, in reasonable agreement with predictions by the BOUT (boundary-plasma turbulence) code.