Optimization of fast-ion diagnostic sets in tokamaks and stellarators using diagnostic weight functions

Abstract

The fast-ion phase-space distribution function in the magnetic fusion devices is always underdiagnosed, and every new fast-ion diagnostic should be carefully assessed before installation to minimize redundancies in measurements and maximize the information from the yet undiagnosed part of the fast-ion phase space distribution function. Here, we present a novel method of assessing the added value of a considered fast-ion diagnostic, taking actual geometry and an existing set of fast-ion diagnostics into account. The new method is based on a reformulation of the diagnostic weight functions in constants of motion (COM). We compare the proposed method with the previous approach using Monte Carlo simulations.