Instrumentation for magnetically confined fusion plasma diagnostics

Abstract

Recent progress in magnetically confined plasma research has brought the goal of controlled thermonuclear fusion within reach. Simultaneously, the increased size, temperature, and density of these devices has resulted in rapid changes in diagnostic techniques. In this article, recent developments in instrumentation are reviewed together with trends for the future. The topics discussed include far-infrared laser interferometry and polarimetry, ruby laser television Thomson scattering, excimer and Nd-glass laser scattering, ion temperature determination via large-a scattering with FIR and CO 2 lasers, collective scattering, Schottky diode mixer technology, synchrotron radiation diagnostics and imaging, ion beam probes, x-ray diagnostics and imaging, neutron diagnostics, resonance fluorescence scattering, ultraviolet diagnostics, and internal magnetic field measurement.

Sensor Technology at Submillimeter Wavelengths for Space Applications

“…Another application of submillimeter-wave sensors has been in the areas of plasma fusion diagnostics and gas spectroscopy. An excellent review of submillimeter-wave techniques in the fusion field can be found in the paper by Luhmann and Peebles [30].…”

Chapter 3: Microwave Diagnostics

“…There have been several excellent review papers on microwave or laser collective scattering experiments. 11,[206][207][208][209][210][211][212] The interested reader is referred to the review papers and cited references. Here, we briefly describe some typical systems and their major results.…”

“…using a grating instrument. [57][58][59] In the heterodyne ECE approach, one or two levels of heterodyne down conversion are employed 11,13,31,60 to convert the high-frequency signals to a convenient intermediate frequency~IF! for subsequent amplification and signal processing.…”

“…When the plasma density and temperature are sufficiently high, the plasma becomes optically thick to some harmonics of the ECE, usually, the firstharmonic ordinary mode and the second-harmonic extraordinary mode. [10][11][12][13] Emission from plasmas of magnetic fusion interest is in the Rayleigh-Jeans limit~\ Ͻ Ͻ kT e ! so that the radiation intensity of optically thick ECE harmonics reaches that of blackbody radiation, i.e.,…”

Recent Advancements in Microwave Imaging Plasma Diagnostics

“…The general principles of the above diagnostic techniques can be found in a number of references 5,[10][11][12][13][14] . The focus and emphasis of this paper will therefore primarily be on the dramatic breakthroughs which are occurring in electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI), microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR), and imaging interferometry together with the emerging technique of cross-polarization scattering and imaging microwave scattering.…”