Search

An 11-channel Far-InfaRed (FIR) three-wave POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system has been successfully operated in 2015 EAST experimental campaign. For high accuracy measurement of POINT system, optimized optical system to reduce the stray light and crosstalk is very important. Optical design is done and improved by using ZEMAX software, in which spot size and energy distribution can be calculated in any position. The crosstalk and stray light can be reduced by optimized design of optical components and putting high extinction ratio materials in some key positions. Vibration isolation coefficient of optical platform is set to 90%. The optical platform and vibration isolation system are about 5 and 20 tons in weight respectively. To reduce vibration caused by the EAST hall, a more than 30 tons in weight stainless steel tower, filled with sand and mounted independent of the EAST machine, is constructed to ensure the stability of optics. Based on the optimized opto-mechanical design, the POINT system resolutions for Faraday rotation and line integral electron density measurements are 0.1° and 1 × 10 16 m −2 , respectively.

A Faraday-effect-based radial-interferometer-polarimeter diagnostic has been developed to explore fast magnetic dynamics in high-performance DIII-D plasmas. The instrument measures radial magnetic field perturbations using three chords positioned near the magnetic axis. Newly developed solid-state sources operating at 650 GHz provide phase noise down to 0.01°/kHz and tunable bandwidth up to 10 MHz. Various systematic errors which can contaminate the polarimetric measurement have been investigated in detail. Distortion of circular polarization due to non-ideal optical components is calibrated using a rotating quarter wave plate technique. The impact of perpendicular magnetic field, i.e., the Cotton-Mouton effect, is evaluated. The error due to non-collinearity of probe beams is minimized to less than 0.5° for electron density up to 7 × 1019 m−3 by alignment optimization. Optical feedback, due to multiple reflections induced by the double-pass configuration, is identified and reduced. Coherent and broadband high-frequency magnetic fluctuations for DIII-D H-mode plasmas are observed.A Faraday-effect-based radial-interferometer-polarimeter diagnostic has been developed to explore fast magnetic dynamics in high-performance DIII-D plasmas. The instrument measures radial magnetic field perturbations using three chords positioned near the magnetic axis. Newly developed solid-state sources operating at 650 GHz provide phase noise down to 0.01°/kHz and tunable bandwidth up to 10 MHz. Various systematic errors which can contaminate the polarimetric measurement have been investigated in detail. Distortion of circular polarization due to non-ideal optical components is calibrated using a rotating quarter wave plate technique. The impact of perpendicular magnetic field, i.e., the Cotton-Mouton effect, is evaluated. The error due to non-collinearity of probe beams is minimized to less than 0.5° for electron density up to 7 × 1019 m−3 by alignment optimization. Optical feedback, due to multiple reflections induced by the double-pass configuration, is identified and reduced. Coherent and broadband...

Correlation techniques have been successfully utilized for plasma diagnostics like electron cyclotron emission to reduce measurement noise. We present the first application of such a technique to Faraday-effect polarimetry measurements on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST). The MST far infrared (FIR) interferometer-polarimeter diagnostic utilizes 11 vertical chords with a chord separation of 7-8 cm and a heterodyne detection system for fluctuation measurements up to several hundred kHz. The planar-diode mixers viewing each chord represent independent noise sources; modifying the optical setup so that two different mixers view the same chord allows cross correlation between the two independent signals to reduce the noise floor in fluctuation measurements. In this manner, the noise floor in both interferometry and polarimetry measurements in reversed-field pinch discharges has been reduced by a factor of 20-30. The correlation polarimeter provides a sensitive measurement of broadband magnetic fluctuations.

Vertical instability control in an elongated plasma is highly desirable for a tokamak reactor. A multi-channel 694 GHz far-infrared laser-based polarimeter-interferometer system has been used to provide a non-inductive vertical position measurement in the long-pulse EAST tokamak. A detailed comparison of vertical position measurements by polarimetry and external inductive flux loops has been used to validate Faraday-effect polarimetry as an accurate high-time response vertical position sensor.

A double-pass, radially viewing, far-infrared laser-based POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system utilizing the three-wave technique has been implemented for diagnosing the plasma current and electron density profiles in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). POINT has been operated routinely during the most recent experimental campaign and provides continuous 11 chord line-integrated Faraday effect and density measurement throughout the entire plasma discharge for all heating schemes and all plasma conditions (including ITER relevant scenario development). Reliability of both the polarimetric and interferometric measurements is demonstrated in 25 s plasmas with H-mode and 102 s long-pulse discharges. Current density, safety factor (q), and electron density profiles are reconstructed using equilibrium fitting code (EFIT) with POINT constraints for the plasma core.

Motivated by the need to measure fast equilibrium temporal dynamics, non-axisymmetric structures, and core magnetic fluctuations (coherent and broadband), a three-chord Faraday-effect polarimeter-interferometer system with fast time response and high phase resolution has recently been installed on the DIII-D tokamak. A novel detection scheme utilizing two probe beams and two detectors for each chord results in reduced phase noise and increased time response [δb ∼ 1G with up to 3 MHz bandwidth]. First measurement results were obtained during the recent DIII-D experimental campaign. Simultaneous Faraday and density measurements have been successfully demonstrated and high-frequency, up to 100 kHz, Faraday-effect perturbations have been observed. Preliminary comparisons with EFIT are used to validate diagnostic performance. Principle of the diagnostic and first experimental results is presented.

Measuring high-frequency fluctuations (above tearing mode frequencies) is important for diagnosing instabilities and transport phenomena. The Madison Symmetric Torus interferometer-polarimeter system has been upgraded to utilize improved planar-diode mixer technology. The new mixers reduce phase noise and allow more sensitive measurements of fluctuations at high frequency. Typical polarimeter rms phase noise values of 0.05°–0.07° are obtained with 400 kHz bandwidth. The low phase noise enables the resolution of fluctuations up to 250 kHz for polarimetry and 600 kHz for interferometry. The importance of probe beam alignment for polarimetry is also verified; previously reported tolerances of ≤0.1 mm displacement for equilibrium and tearing mode measurements minimize contamination due to spatial misalignment to within acceptable levels for chords near the magnetic axis.

A full-scale ITER toroidal interferometer and polarimeter (TIP) prototype, including an active feedback alignment system, has been installed and tested on the DIII-D tokamak. In the TIP prototype, a two-color interferometry measurement of line-integrated density is carried out at 10.59 μm and 5.22 μm using a CO2 and quantum cascade laser, respectively, while a separate polarimetry measurement of the plasma-induced Faraday effect is made at 10.59 μm. The TIP prototype is equipped with a piezo tip/tilt stage active feedback alignment system that minimizes noise in the measurement and keeps the diagnostic aligned throughout DIII-D discharges. The measured phase resolution for the polarimeter and interferometer is 0.05° (100 Hz bandwidth) and 1.9° (1 kHz bandwidth), respectively. The corresponding line-integrated density resolution for the vibration-compensated interferometer is δnL = 1.5 × 1018 m-2, and the magnetic field-weighted line-integrated density from the polarimeter is δnBL = 1.5 × 1019 Tm-2. Both interferometer and polarimeter measurements during DIII-D discharges compare well with the expectations based on calculations using Thomson scattering measured density profiles and magnetic equilibrium reconstructions. Additionally, larger bandwidth interferometer measurements show that the diagnostic is a sensitive monitor of core density fluctuations with demonstrated measurements of Alfven eigenmodes and tearing modes.

A double-pass radially view 11 chords polarimeter-interferometer system has been operated on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak and provides important current profile information for plasma control. Stray light originating from spurious reflections along the optical path (unwanted reflections from various optical components/mounts and transmissive optical elements such as windows, waveplates, and lens as well as the detectors) and also direct feedback from the retro-reflector used to realize the double-pass configuration can both contribute to contamination of the Faraday rotation measurement accuracy. Modulation of the Faraday rotation signal due to the interference from multiple reflections is observable when the interferometer phase (plasma density) varies with time. Direct reflection from the detector itself can be suppressed by employing an optical isolator consisting of a λ/4-waveplate and polarizer positioned in front of the mixer. A Faraday angle oscillation during the density ramping up (or down) can be reduced from 5°-10° to 1°-2° by eliminating reflections from the detector. Residual modulation arising from misalignment and stray light from other sources must be minimized to achieve accurate measurements of Faraday rotation.

For future burning plasma experiments, all diagnostics must be re-evaluated in terms of their measurement capabilities and robustness in the harsh, high-temperature environment. This is certainly true for interferometry measurements where conventional approaches may not be ideal and interpretation may require modification due to high plasma temperatures. Optimizing these systems to provide maximum information is crucial to understanding burning plasma dynamics. This paper explores a variety of phase measurement techniques for the main body and divertor regions that can be utilized on fusion plasma experiments like ITER and beyond.

Measuring the equilibrium electron density distribution and its response to perturbations provides important information to magnetically confined plasma research. A multichannel interferometer system is now routinely operating on the new quasihelically symmetric stellator (HSX) to measure the equilibrium profile and electron density dynamics. The interferometer system has nine viewing chords with 1.5 cm spacing. The source is a bias-tuned Gunn diode at 96 GHz with passive solid-state tripler providing output at 288 GHz (8 mW). The HSX plasma is produced by 28 GHz electron cyclotron resonance heating and first results of the interferometer measurement are reported. The density spatial distribution is reconstructed from the measured line-integrated density. At high density [ne>2×1012 cm−3], an m=1 density oscillation with frequency of 1–2 kHz is observed. Plans to determine the radial particle flux and transport coefficients will be discussed.

A full-scale 120 m path length ITER toroidal interferometer and polarimeter (TIP) prototype, including an active feedback alignment system, has been constructed and undergone initial testing at General Atomics. In the TIP prototype, two-color interferometry is carried out at 10.59 μm and 5.22 μm using a CO2 and quantum cascade laser (QCL) respectively while a separate polarimetry measurement of the plasma induced Faraday effect is made at 10.59 μm. The polarimeter system uses co-linear right and left-hand circularly polarized beams upshifted by 40 and 44 MHz acousto-optic cells respectively, to generate the necessary beat signal for heterodyne phase detection, while interferometry measurements are carried out at both 40 MHz and 44 MHz for the CO2 laser and 40 MHz for the QCL. The high-resolution phase information is obtained using an all-digital FPGA based phase demodulation scheme and precision clock source. The TIP prototype is equipped with a piezo tip/tilt stage active feedback alignment system responsible for minimizing noise in the measurement and keeping the TIP diagnostic aligned indefinitely on its 120 m beam path including as the ITER vessel is brought from ambient to operating temperatures. The prototype beam path incorporates translation stages to simulate ITER motion through a bake cycle as well as other sources of motion or misalignment. Even in the presence of significant motion, the TIP prototype is able to meet ITER's density measurement requirements over 1000 s shot durations with demonstrated phase resolution of 0.06° and 1.5° for the polarimeter and vibration compensated interferometer respectively. TIP vibration compensated interferometer measurements of a plasma have also been made in a pulsed radio frequency device and show a line-integrated density resolution of m−2.

A vibration compensation interferometer (wavelength at 0.532 μm) has been designed and tested for Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). It is designed as a sub-system for EAST far-infrared (wavelength at 432.5 μm) poloarimeter/interferometer system. Two Acoustic Optical Modulators have been applied to produce the 1 MHz intermediate frequency. The path length drift of the system is lower than 2 wavelengths within 10 min test, showing the system stability. The system sensitivity has been tested by applying a periodic vibration source on one mirror in the system. The vibration is measured and the result matches the source period. The system is expected to be installed on EAST by the end of 2014.

A multichannel millimeter-wave interferometer system has been designed, fabricated and installed on the helically symmetric experiment (HSX), located at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The interferometer system will view the plasma cross section along nine adjacent chords with 1.5 cm spacing. With this arrangement, coverage will span from the low-field side plasma scrape-off layer to well past the magnetic axis. For the plasma densities anticipated on HSX, a solid-state source operating at 288 GHz will be utilized. At this frequency refraction will be manageable, being less than the channel spacing. The source will be bias-tuned and modulated with a sawtooth wave form at 750 kHz in order to generate the intermediate frequency necessary for the heterodyne detection scheme. The signals will be measured using Schottky-diode corner-cube mixers. The interferometer will have sensitivity nedl≈8×1011 cm−2, being able to measure density changes

As a consequence of recent improvements to the far-infrared (FIR) interferometer time response, from bandwidth of 10 kHz up to 1 MHz, high-frequency density fluctuations can now be resolved on the Madison symmetric torus (MST) reversed-field pinch. The phase measurement allows absolute calibration of the fluctuation amplitude while eleven chords generate information on the spatial distribution. Density fluctuations up to 200 kHz are observed. A unique feature of the MST interferometer is that six chords are toroidally displaced 5° from the remaining five. Hence, besides information on the poloidal structure, i.e., m=1, toroidal information is also available. By computing the cross power, coherence, and cross phase between two toroidally displaced chords, one can determine the toroidal rotation speed, dispersion, and correlation length.

The far-infrared laser interferometer on the Madison Symmetric Torus has recently been upgraded to allow simultaneous interferometry and polarimetry measurements. Centered around a heterodyne laser system that operates at λ≃432 μm, the diagnostic has a frequency response of 1 kHz for the polarimeter and up to 1 MHz for the interferometer. The distribution of laser power through the 11 chord system is managed with wire mesh beamsplitters. Concurrent with the system upgrade to polarimetry, a detailed study of the effect of the wire mesh beamsplitters on beam polarization was conducted. The study shows that the mesh characteristics must be included to extract the polarimetry phase measurement from the raw data. The modifications to the data analysis as well as preliminary five chord polarimetry profile data are presented.

Experimental results are described from an integrated interferometer-reflectometer system implemented on TEXT-Upgrade. In plasma regions where the systems have spatial overlap, excellent agreement is observed between the independently measured electron density profiles. Combined interferometer-reflectometer data are used to obtain the optimal total density profile. By removing chords from the interferometer, one can examine how resolution is compromised as the channel number decreases and spacing varies. Depending on the expected profile shapes (i.e. flat or peaked), one can design an integrated interferometer-reflectometer system employing a minimum number of chords while still providing crucial profile information.

A polarimetry capability has been added to the UCLA multichord far-infrared heterodyne interferometer system on TEXT-Upgrade. The polarimeter utilizes a phase technique in order to measure the Faraday rotation angle of the incident laser beam upon transmission through the plasma. From these data one derives information on the poloidal magnetic field, current density and safety factor profiles. The response of these profiles to electron cyclotron resonance heating and fast current ramps is investigated.

The principles of plasma electron cyclotron (EC) radiometry are reviewed. The aim is to lay the groundwork for discussion of new high performance electron cyclotron emission (ECE) detectors. One example is that of heterodyne arrays. Preliminary results are presented of data obtained with a novel ECE imaging system on TEXT-U based on such an array. A variety of preliminary experiments have already been performed with this system where the ultimate space and time resolutions of ECE are attained. As examples we cite average electron temperature profile measurements with 1 cm resolution, high frequency fluctuations and their vertical chord correlation, magnetohydro-dynamic mode reconstruction and magnetic island detection.

A novel wide bandwidth, low-cost, 20 channel hybrid Schottky diode mixer array-based imaging system has been developed, tested and implemented for electron cyclotron emission diagnostics on the Texas experimental tokamak upgrade (TEXT-U). The array has been successfully utilized to measure 1D and 2D electron temperature profiles, to study sawteeth and magnetohydrodynamic phenomena, and to make measurements of the poloidal/radial correlation lengths and wave-number spectra of electron temperature fluctuations. Fabrication and laboratory characterization results are presented, together with details and test results from the actual implementation on TEXT-U.

Substantial improvements have been made to increase the frequency bandwidth of the UCLA multichannel interferometer system on TEXT-Upgrade. Recently, a digital phase comparator technique was implemented that has several advantages over the conventional analog phase comparator. The probe and reference wave forms are directly digitized and the phase computed in software using a numerical demodulation algorithm. For the purpose of reducing the data load, aliasing of the laser difference frequency is employed to vary the time response according to experimental demands.

One of the systems planned for the measurement of electron density in ITER is a multi-channel tangentially viewing combined interferometer-polarimeter (TIP). This work discusses the current status of the design, including a preliminary optical table layout, calibration options, error sources, and performance projections based on a CO2/CO laser system. In the current design, two-color interferometry is carried out at 10.59 μm and 5.42 μm and a separate polarimetry measurement of the plasma induced Faraday effect, utilizing the rotating wave technique, is made at 10.59 μm. The inclusion of polarimetry provides an independent measure of the electron density and can also be used to correct the conventional two-color interferometer for fringe skips at all densities, up to and beyond the Greenwald limit. The system features five chords with independent first mirrors to reduce risks associated with deposition, erosion, etc., and a common first wall hole to minimize penetration sizes. Simulations of performance for a projected ITER baseline discharge show the diagnostic will function as well as, or better than, comparable existing systems for feedback density control. Calculations also show that finite temperature effects will be significant in ITER even for moderate temperature plasmas and can lead to a significant underestimate of electron density. A secondary role TIP will fulfill is that of a density fluctuation diagnostic; using a toroidal Alfvén eigenmode as an example, simulations show TIP will be extremely robust in this capacity and potentially able to resolve coherent mode fluctuations with perturbed densities as low as δn∕n ≈ 10(-5).

A high-resolution, vertically viewing far-infrared polarimeter-interferometer system is currently used on the Madison symmetric torus (MST) reversed-field pinch (RFP) to measure the plasma electron density and toroidal current density via Faraday rotation. In this article, we propose a scheme to measure the well-known Fizeau effect, whereby through modest modification of the existing apparatus, the line-integrated poloidal current density can also be directly measured. This parameter is important, since the RFP toroidal magnetic field is largely determined by currents flowing within the plasma. The Fizeau effect is a phase shift of an electromagnetic wave associated with movement of a dielectric medium. This motion can be related directly to the plasma electron current. Determining the Fizeau effect involves measurement of the phase shift between two collinear, orthogonally polarized, counterpropagating laser beams. Estimates indicate a phase shift of ∼2° is expected for typical MST parameters, well withi...

The first equilibrium reconstruction of EAST current-density profile based on internal Faraday rotation measurements provided by the POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) diagnostic is demonstrated using the EFIT equilibrium reconstruction code. EFIT incorporates 11 simultaneous line-integrated density and Faraday effect measurements from POINT to self-consistently reconstruct the equilibrium toroidal current density profile using a Faraday rotation reconstruction algorithm. It is shown that the POINT measurements can be applied to improve the accuracy of core plasma current density and q profile on EAST. Comparisons of magnetic surfaces and the q profile reconstructed using external magnetic data against those using magnetic and POINT data are presented. Equilibrium reconstructions using POINT data are found to be consistent with sawtooth phenomena. The sensitivity of equilibrium reconstruction to POINT measurements indicates Faraday rotation provides important constraints for determining the current profile.

A heterodyne detection scheme is combined with a 10.59 μm CO2 laser dispersion interferometer for the first time to allow large bandwidth measurements in the 10-100 MHz range. The approach employed utilizes a 40 MHz acousto-optic cell operating on the frequency doubled CO2 beam which is obtained using a high 2nd harmonic conversion efficiency orientation patterned gallium arsenide crystal. The measured standard deviation of the line integrated electron density equivalent phase resolution obtained with digital phase demodulation technique, is 4 × 1017 m−2. Air flow was found to significantly affect the baseline of the phase signal, which an optical table cover was able to reduce considerably. The heterodyne dispersion interferometer (DI) approach is found to be robustly insensitive to motion, with measured phase shifts below baseline drifts even in the presence of several centimeters of retroreflector induced path length variations. Plasma induced dispersion was simulated with a wedged ZnSe plate and the m...

A multi-channel far-infrared laser-based POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system utilizing the three-wave technique has been implemented for fully diagnosing the internal magnetic field in the EAST tokamak. Double-pass, horizontal, radially-viewing chords access the plasma via an equatorial port. The laser source consists of three CW formic acid (HCOOH) FIR lasers at nominal wavelength 432.5 μm which are optically pumped by independent infrared CO2 lasers. Output power is more than 30 mW of per cavity. Novel molybdenum retro-reflectors, can with withstand baking temperature up to 350°C and discharge duration more than 1000 s, are mounted in the inside wall for the double-pass optical arrangement. A Digital Phase Detector with 250 kHz bandwidth, which provide real-time Faraday rotation angle and density phase shift output for plasma control, have been developed for the POINT system. Reliability of both polarimetric and interferometric measurement are obtained in 22 s long pulse H mode discharge and 8 s NBI H mode discharge, indicating the POINT system works for any heating scheme on EAST so far. The electron line-integrated density resolution of POINT is less than 1 × 1016 m−2 (< 1°), and the Faraday rotation angle rms phase noise is < 0.1°. With the high temporal (~ 1 μsec) and phase resolution (< 0.1°), perturbations associated with the sawtooth cycle and MHD activity have been observed. The current profile, density profile and safety factor (q) profile are reconstructed by using EFIT code from the external magnetic and the validation POINT data. Realtime EFIT with Faraday angle and density phase shift constraints will be implemented in the plasma control system in the future.

The multichannel polarimeter-interferometer system on the MST reversed-field pinch can be utilized to measure far-forward collective scattering from electron density fluctuations. The collective scattering system has 11 viewing chords with ∼8 cm spacing. The source is a 432 μm (694 GHz) far infrared laser and the scattered power is measured using a heterodyne detection scheme. Collective scattering provides a line-integrated measurement of fluctuations within the divergence of the probe beam covering wavenumber range: k(⊥)1.3 cm(-1), corresponding k(⊥)ρ(s)1.3 (ρ(s) is the ion-sound Larmor radius), the region of primary interest for turbulent fluctuation-induced transport. The perpendicular wavenumber consists of toroidal, poloidal, and radial contributions, which vary with chord position. Coherent modes associated with tearing instabilities and neutral-beam driven fast particles are observed along with broadband turbulence at frequencies up to 500 kHz. Changes in frequency are consistent with a Doppler shift due to parallel plasma flow.

Two counter-rotating circularly polarized beams are used in a laser-based polarimetry diagnostic providing a phase measurement of the Faraday effect. Collinearity of these beams is a key issue that affects measurement accuracy. Spatial offset from even small misalignment induces systematic error due to density gradient and path length difference. Here, we report an alignment technique using a rotating dielectric wedge, which is capable of reducing spatial offset of two probe beams below 0.1 mm for beams with 40 mm diameter. With optimized alignment, 0.05° Faraday effect fluctuations associated with global tearing modes are resolved with an uncertainty below 0.01°.

For future burning plasma experiments, all diagnostics must be re‐evaluated in terms of their measurement capabilities and robustness to the new environment. This is certainly true for interferometry measurements where conventional approaches may not be ideal and interpretation may require modification due to high plasma temperatures. Optimizing these systems to provide maximum information will be crucial to understanding burning plasma dynamics. This paper will explore a variety of phase measurement techniques for the main body and divertor regions that can be utilized on burning plasma experiments like ITER and beyond.

Anomalous transport in fusion plasmas remains an enigma requiring explanation. A predictive capability is highly desirable if confinement enhancement regimes such as H mode or super shots are to be extrapolated to the next phase in development of the International Fusion program, epitomized, for example in ITER. Therefore, identification of the role that electrostatic turbulence plays in confinement is a critical issue requiring detailed experimental data capable of testing and challenging existing theoretical models. This article presents microturbulence measurements obtained on the DIII‐D and TEXT tokamaks utilizing heterodyne, far‐infrared collective scattering, and reflectometry techniques. The experimental systems are described on both machines and emphasis placed on results obtained during the L‐H transition, ELM activity, and saturated ohmic operation where ion temperature gradient driven (ITGD) turbulence is theoretically predicted to exist.

Diffraction from plasma density irregularities can have significant consequences for the tomographic inversion of line‐of‐sight integrated measurements of the phase disturbance suffered by a probing beam. A new tomographic approach which takes account of diffraction from high‐K refractive index structures is described. The relevance for multichannel interferometry measurements is demonstrated numerically and the technique is applied to the inversion of multichannel TEXT interferometer data.

A far-infrared polarimeter diagnostic has been added to the UCLA multichord heterodyne interferometer system on TEXT-Upgrade. The polarimeter utilizes the phase technique of Rice [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 63, 5002 (1992)] in order to measure the Faraday rotation angle of the incident laser beam upon transmission through the plasma. From these data one derives information on the poloidal magnetic field, current density, and safety factor profiles. Due to the excellent port access and the polarimeter/interferometer scanning capability, the Faraday rotation profile can be measured across the entire plasma cross section.

Summary form only given, as follows. There is presently considerable worldwide interest in the study of high temperature plasmas. Much of this interest is driven by the goal of achieving controlled thermonuclear fusion, which involves the release of net nuclear energy from the fusion of light nuclei such as deuteneum and mtuim. In order to understand many of the issues and problems relating to the physics of magnetically confined plasmas, there is a need for accurate, high resolution and flexible diagnostic systems. The far-infrared spectral region (100-1OOO pm) is ideally suited to a number of fusion plasma diagnostic techniques such as collective Thomson scattering, multichannel interferometry and polarimetry. The only practical radiation source currently available is *e optically pumped far-infrared (FIR) laser. This paper describes the development of a high power, stable, twin frequency FIR laser for diagnosis of fusion plasmas. The use of buffer gases, temperature optimization and operation of the laser in both ring and linear cavities will be described. In addition, diagnostic measurements on the TEXT device will be presented to demonsuate the flexibility and importance of FIR diagnostics in the fusion program.

Summary form only given. Both the current density and electron current density are important parameters for fusion-oriented plasma research. In a reversed field pinch plasma, a far-infrared laser system is employed to measure both the Faraday rotation and electron density simultaneously with time response ~5 microseconds. This provides a single-shot capability for constraining magnetic equilibrium reconstructions and determining the current density distribution. Fast time response combined with low phase noise also enables us to directly measure magnetic, current density and electron density fluctuations. The two-fluid Hall effect is identified and found to be significant during magnetic reconnection events. A new diagnostic is being developed which detects the relativistic phase shift (Fizeau effect) of a laser beam propagating through a moving plasma thereby providing a measure of the electron current density. These diagnostic techniques have direct application to ITER.

The first experimental results from the horizontal‐view, multichannel, heterodyne FIR interferometer system on TEXT‐Upgrade are reported. The initial system employs parabolic beam‐expansion optics and a 15 cm array with minimum channel spacing of 1.5 cm. Profiles of the plasma electron density will be presented. In addition, small‐amplitude density perturbations resulting from sawteeth and tearing modes are examined. Due to the double pass of the laser beam through the plasma and the large distance of the detector array (2.5 m) from the plasma, refractive effects can be important. A ray tracing code is developed to correct the measured profiles.

The UCLA far‐infrared scattering/interferometry system on TEXT‐Upgrade has recently been modified to include a two‐dimensional capability. Along with the vertically viewing system, a horizontal view has been added. For interferometric measurements of the plasma density profile, the vertical view consists of a 45 cm array while the horizontal view array spans 15 cm. Density profiles for Text‐Upgrade plasmas will be presented. For collective scattering measurements of electron density fluctuations, cross correlation of scattered signals from the two orthogonal views at the same wave vector will be examined. Finite cross coherence may be used to spatially localize the fluctuation measurements.

First measurements of the current-density profile in the core of a high-temperature reversed-field pinch are presented. The current-density profile is observed to peak during the sawtooth cycle and broaden promptly at the crash. This change in profile can be linked to magnetic relaxation and the dynamo which is predicted to drive antiparallel current in the plasma core. For high-confinement discharges, the dynamo is suppressed and the current-density profile is observed to strongly peak.

Diagnostic techniques to measure the internal structure of density and magnetic perturbations, both equilibrium and turbulent, are becoming increasingly important for assessing the confinement properties of high-temperature magnetically confined fusion plasmas. Recent advances in laser-based polarimetry-interferometry techniques now permit simultaneous measurements of both density and magnetic field with fast time response and high phase resolution. Images of intrinsic tearing instabilities driven by radial gradients in the parallel current density are shown for the combined measurements.

Combined polarimetry-interferometry capability permits simultaneous measurement of line-integrated density and Faraday effect with fast time response (∼1 μs) and high sensitivity. Faraday effect fluctuations with phase shift of order 0.05° associated with global tearing modes are resolved with an uncertainty ∼0.01°. For physics investigations, local density fluctuations are obtained by inverting the line-integrated interferometry data. The local magnetic and current density fluctuations are then reconstructed using a parameterized fit of the polarimetry data. Reconstructed 2D images of density and magnetic field fluctuations in a poloidal cross section exhibit significantly different spatial structure. Combined with their relative phase, the magnetic-fluctuation-induced particle transport flux and its spatial distribution are resolved.

Magnetic fluctuation-induced transport driven by global tearing modes has been measured by Faraday-effect polarimetry and interferometry (phase measurements) in the MST reversed field pinch. However, the role of small-scale broadband magnetic and density turbulence in transport remains unknown. In order to investigate broadband magnetic turbulence, we plan to upgrade the existing detector system by using planar-diode fundamental waveguide mixers optimized for high sensitivity. Initial tests indicate these mixers have ×10 sensitivity improvement compared to currently employed corner-cube Schottky-diode mixers and ×5 lower noise. Compact mixer design will allow us to resolve the wavenumbers up to k ∼ 1-2 cm(-1) for beam width w = 1.5 cm and 15 cm(-1) for beam width w = 2 mm. The system can also be used to measure the scattered signal (amplitude measurement) induced by both plasma density and magnetic fluctuations.

A Far-InfaRed (FIR) three-wave POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system for measurement current density profile and electron density profile is under development for the EAST tokamak. The FIR beams are transmitted from the laser room to the optical tower adjacent to EAST via ∼20 m overmoded dielectric waveguide and then divided into 5 horizontal chords. The optical arrangement was designed using ZEMAX, which provides information on the beam spot size and energy distribution throughout the optical system. ZEMAX calculations used to optimize the optical layout design are combined with the mechanical design from CATIA, providing a 3D visualization of the entire POINT system.

A multichannel far-infrared laser-based POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system utilizing the three-wave technique is under development for current density and electron density profile measurements in the EAST tokamak. Novel molybdenum retro-reflectors are mounted in the inside wall for the double-pass optical arrangement. A Digital Phase Detector with 250 kHz bandwidth, which will provide real-time Faraday rotation angle and density phase shift output, have been developed for use on the POINT system. Initial calibration indicates the electron line-integrated density resolution is less than 5 × 10(16) m(-2) (∼2°), and the Faraday rotation angle rms phase noise is0.1°.

Electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECE imaging or ECEI) is a novel plasma diagnostic technique for the study of electron temperature profiles and fluctuations in magnetic fusion plasma devices. Instead of a single receiver located in the tokamak midplane as in conventional ECE radiometers, ECEI systems utilize large diameter imaging optics coupled with planar millimeter-wave imaging arrays to form multichannel ECE diagnostics with excellent spatial resolution. Combined with specially designed imaging optics, the use of these compact, low cost arrays has resulted in the excellent spatial resolution of the ECEI systems, the unique capability of two-dimensional measurements, and flexibility in the measurement of plasma fluctuations. Technical details and principles of this emerging diagnostic technique are described in this article. Illustrative experimental results are presented, together with a discussion of the further development of the diagnostic. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.

The spatial resolution of small‐angle collective scattering systems is often ambiguous due to the extended length of the scattering volume. By examining two sample volumes at the same wave vector (or scattering angle) that lie along the incident beam, and by varying the separation between these two volumes, one can examine their cross‐correlation through use of simple digital signal processing techniques. As the separation between the two volumes is increased, the signals are observed to decorrelate. Application of this technique on the DIII‐D and TEXT tokamaks shows that when the volumes are located at the plasma edge and core, the two signals are decorrelated indicating that fluctuations in the plasma core can be resolved.

In order to improve the overall output characteristics of far‐infrared (FIR) lasers, recent development at UCLA has concentrated on the use of a metallic overmoded waveguide (smooth bore and corrugated) instead of a conventional smooth‐bore dielectric waveguide. The metallic waveguide has substantially lower propagation losses, especially at frequencies below 500 GHz, and also supports the desired HE11 mode. Laboratory results show a substantial increase in output power using a corrugated metallic waveguide, with 37 mW being obtained at 1.22 mm using 13CH3F (isotopic methyl fluoride) while maintaining the same mode quality and polarization. This represents an improvement of 100% over a smooth‐bore dielectric waveguide. Comparison of far‐infrared output using the three types of waveguide will be made.

A multichannel, heterodyne, far‐infrared laser interferometer with high spatial and phase resolution is employed on TEXT to characterize the equilibrium density profile for the full range of TEXT discharge parameters. Gaussian and parabolic functional fits with three free parameters are made to the measured profiles and compared. Scaling of the equilibrium density profile shape with plasma current, toroidal magnetic field, and density is clearly observed. By performing a regression analysis on each free parameter for the functional fit, one can construct a set of analytical relations describing the TEXT density profile for steady‐state ohmic discharges. The database used to identify these relations contains 50 different discharge conditions.

A multichannel, heterodyne, far‐infrared laser scattering system is employed on TEXT to determine the spectral and spatial properties of electron density fluctuations. The spatial resolution of this system is demonstrated by utilizing a perturbation to the plasma potential profile induced by an applied resonant field. The perturbation changes the sign of the radial electric field over a certain region of the plasma. Shifts in the density fluctuation frequency spectra can be associated with changes in the radial electric field allowing one to unambiguously resolve fluctuations in the plasma interior and edge.

A double-pass, radially-viewing, multichannel far-infrared (FIR) polarimeter/interferometer system is under development for current density profile and electron density profile measurements in the EAST tokamak. The system utilizes three 432.5 μm CW formic acid FIR lasers pumped by three CO2 lasers. Each of the three FIR lasers can generate high output power of more than 30 mW per cavity. Two lasers, with slight frequency offset ( ~ 1 MHz), will be made collinear with counter-rotating circular polarization in order to determine the Faraday effect by measuring their phase difference. The third laser also frequency offset, will be used as a reference providing local oscillator (LO) power to each mixer so that one can obtain the phase shift caused by the plasma electron density. Novel molybdenic retro-reflectors with shutter protection have been designed and will be mounted on the inner vessel wall in EAST. The retro-reflectors can withstand baking temperature up to 350°C and discharge duration more than 1000 s. Vibrations and path length changes due to thermal expansion will be compensated using a He-Ne interferometer as the second color. VDI planar-diode Integrated Conical Horn Fundamental Mixers optimized for high sensitivity, typical 750 V/W, will be used. Initially a five-chord system will be installed in 2013 and an eleven-chord system will be implemented on the core region of EAST plasmas. MHz frequency response allows system to resolve fast MHD events such as tearing/neoclassical tearing, disruptions and fast-particle modes. Preliminary design will be presented.

At anticipated high electron temperatures in ITER, the effects of electron thermal motion on phase measurements made by the toroidal interferometer/polarimeter (TIP) and poloidal polarimeter (PoPola) diagnostics will be significant and must be precisely treated or the measurement accuracy will fail to meet the specified requirements for ITER operation. We calculate electron thermal corrections to the interferometric phase and polarization state of an electromagnetic wave propagating along tangential and poloidal chords (Faraday and Cotton?Mouton polarimetry) and incorporate them into the Stokes vector equation for evolution of polarization. Although these corrections are small at electron temperatures Te???1?keV, they become sizable at Te???10?keV. The precision of the previous lowest order linear in the ??=?Te/mec2 model may be insufficient; we present a more precise model with ?2-order corrections to satisfy the high accuracy required for ITER TIP and PoPola diagnostics. Proper treatment of temperature effects will ensure more accurate interpretation of interferometric and polarimetric measurements in fusion devices like ITER and DEMO. The use of precise analytic expressions is especially important for burning plasmas where various interferometric techniques will be used for direct real time feedback control of device operations with time resolution ?1?ms to regulate the rate of the thermonuclear burn and monitor/control the safety factor profile.