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Active NPA measurements of the fast ion distribution using the neutral beam as an additional charge exchange target are discussed. Expressions for the calculation of the NPA signal based on the fast ion distribution and for the reconstruction of the fast ion distribution from the NPA signal are provided. Demonstration of the described approach is carried out on the Globus-M2 spherical tokamak, where a scanning system for the NPAs was recently installed. Main features of the active NPA application on Globus-M2 are considered. The energy and spatial distributions of fast deuterium ions at dedicated pitch angles are obtained and compared with the calculated ones. Key traits of the obtained distributions are considered and explained.

Active ion temperature measurement in the core plasma of a tokamak using active neutral particle analyzers (NPA) diagnostics is considered. Two approaches for local ion temperature reconstruction are reviewed: semi-analytical and iterative. A semi-analytical approach allows the calculation of ion temperature using simple expression, while a more complex iterative approach provides more flexibility. Problems associated with active NPA measurements and their possible solutions are discussed. An example of the core ion temperature profile reconstruction in the compact spherical tokamak Globus-M2 using both approaches is shown. Problems associated with active ion temperature measurements in a compact reactor and possible solutions are considered.

The paper is devoted to an energy confinement study at the Globus-M spherical tokamak (ST). Experiments were performed in single null divertor configuration with elongation as high as 1.8–1.9 for variable plasma current and fixed toroidal magnetic field. The confinement time (τ E) dependence on density for ohmic-heated (OH) deuterium plasma is presented. It was found that τ E rises linearly with plasma current in H-mode with pure ohmic heating. Pronounced electron and ion heating was achieved in discharges with neutral beam injection at a moderate density level. The dependence of τ E on absorbed power was weak.