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A new two-dimensional full-wave code has been developed to simulate ordinary (O) mode reflectometry signals caused by plasma density fluctuations. The code uses the finite-difference time-domain method with a perfectly matched layer absorption boundary to solve Maxwell’s equations. Huygens wave sources are incorporated to generate Gaussian beams. The code has been used to simulate the reflectometer measurement of the quasicoherent mode (60–250 kHz) associated with enhanced D[sub α] (EDA) H modes in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. It is found that an analysis of the realistic experimental layout is essential for the quantitative interpretation of the mode amplitude. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acousto-optic rf spectrometer (AOS) has been designed and constructed for use on the CONSTANCE B and TARA mirror experiments at MIT. The AOS is an analog preprocessor of data that can come from a variety of sources, including rf probes and microwave/laser scattering experiments. The output of the AOS is the Fourier transform amplitude of the input in a parallel format suitable for computer acquisition. The spectrometer, having a bandwidth of 500 MHz and a resolution of 1 MHz, together with its receiver, is capable of looking at fluctuations anywhere in the frequency range of a few MHz up to 4 GHz. Power levels of a few nanowatts can be detected. Complete 500-MHz-wide spectra can be processed and acquired at the rate of 1 every 10 μs. The optical components, receiver, and data-acquisition interface will be discussed, and initial data taken on the CONSTANCE B experiment will be shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-color interferometry diagnostic on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak has been upgraded to measure fluctuations in the electron density and density gradient for turbulence and transport studies. Diagnostic features and capabilities are described. In differential mode, fast phase demodulation electronics detect the relative phase change between ten adjacent, radially-separated (ΔR = 1.2 cm, adjustable), vertical-viewing chords, which allows for measurement of the line-integrated electron density gradient. The system can be configured to detect the absolute phase shift of each chord by comparison to a local oscillator, measuring the line-integrated density. Each chord is sensitive to density fluctuations with kR < 20.3 cm-1 and is digitized at up to 10 MS/s, resolving aspects of ion temperature gradient-driven modes and other long-wavelength turbulence. Data from C-Mod discharges is presented, including observations of the quasi-coherent mode in enhanced D-alpha H-mode plasmas and the weakly coherent mode in I-mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correlation electron cyclotron emission (CECE) diagnostic has been installed in Alcator C-Mod. In order to measure electron temperature fluctuations, this diagnostic uses a spectral decorrelation technique. Constraints obtained with nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations guided the design of the optical system and receiver. The CECE diagnostic is designed to measure temperature fluctuations which have kθ ≤ 4.8 cm-1 (kθρs < 0.5) using a well-focused beam pattern. Because the CECE diagnostic is a dedicated turbulence diagnostic, the optical system is also flexible, which allows for various collimating lenses and antenna to be used. The system overview and the demonstration of its operability as designed are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]