X-ray spectroscopy of Cu impurities on NSTX and comparison with Z-pinch plasmas

X-ray spectroscopy of mid-Z metal impurities is important in the study of tokamak plasmas and may reveal potential problems if their contribution to the radiated power becomes substantial. The analysis of the data from a high-resolution x-ray and extreme ultraviolet grating spectrometer, XEUS, installed on NSTX, was performed focused on a detailed study of x-ray spectra in the range 7-18 A?. These spectra include not only commonly seen iron spectra but also copper spectra not yet employed as an NSTX plasma impurity diagnostic. In particular, the L-shell Cu spectra were modeled and predictions were made for identifying contributions from various Cu ions in different spectral bands. Also, similar spectra, but from much denser Cu plasmas produced on the UNR Z-pinch facility and collected using the convex-crystal spectrometer, were analyzed and compared with NSTX results.     

Experimental setup for tungsten transport studies at the NSTX tokamak

Tungsten particles have been introduced into the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) in Princeton with the purpose to investigate the effects of tungsten injection on subsequent plasma discharges. An experimental setup for the study of tungsten particle transport is described where the particles are introduced into the tokamak using a modified particle dropper, otherwise used for lithium-powder injection. An initial test employing a grazing-incidence extreme ultraviolet spectrometer demonstrates that the tungsten-transport setup could serve to infer particle transport from the edge to the hot central plasmas of NSTX.     

Objectives and layout of a high-resolution x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for the large helical device

A high-resolution x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer, whose concept was tested on NSTX and Alcator C-Mod, is being designed for the large helical device (LHD). This instrument will record spatially resolved spectra of helium-like Ar(16+) and will provide ion temperature profiles with spatial and temporal resolutions of <2?cm and ≥10?ms, respectively. The spectrometer layout and instrumental features are largely determined by the magnetic field structure of LHD. The stellarator equilibrium reconstruction codes, STELLOPT and PIES, will be used for the tomographic inversion of the spectral data.     

A dual-band adaptor for infrared imaging

A novel imaging adaptor providing the capability to extend a standard single-band infrared (IR) camera into a two-color or dual-band device has been developed for application to high-speed IR thermography on the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment (NSTX). Temperature measurement with two-band infrared imaging has the advantage of being mostly independent of surface emissivity, which may vary significantly in the liquid lithium divertor installed on NSTX as compared to that of an all-carbon first wall. In order to take advantage of the high-speed capability of the existing IR camera at NSTX (1.6-6.2 kHz frame rate), a commercial visible-range optical splitter was extensively modified to operate in the medium wavelength and long wavelength IR. This two-band IR adapter utilizes a dichroic beamsplitter, which reflects 4-6 μm wavelengths and transmits 7-10 μm wavelength radiation, each with >95% efficiency and projects each IR channel image side-by-side on the camera's detector. Cutoff filters are used in each IR channel, and ZnSe imaging optics and mirrors optimized for broadband IR use are incorporated into the design. In-situ and ex-situ temperature calibration and preliminary data of the NSTX divertor during plasma discharges are presented, with contrasting results for dual-band vs. single-band IR operation.     

Calculation of the Johann error for spherically bent x-ray imaging crystal spectrometers

New x-ray imaging crystal spectrometers, currently operating on Alcator C-Mod, NSTX, EAST, and KSTAR, record spectral lines of highly charged ions, such as Ar(16+), from multiple sightlines to obtain profiles of ion temperature and of toroidal plasma rotation velocity from Doppler measurements. In the present work, we describe a new data analysis routine, which accounts for the specific geometry of the sightlines of a curved-crystal spectrometer and includes corrections for the Johann error to facilitate the tomographic inversion. Such corrections are important to distinguish velocity induced Doppler shifts from instrumental line shifts caused by the Johann error. The importance of this correction is demonstrated using data from Alcator C-Mod.     

A real-time velocity diagnostic for NSTX

A new system for fast measurements of the plasma toroidal velocity has been installed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment, NSTX [M. Ono et al., Nucl. Fusion 40, 557 (2000)]. The diagnostic, based on active charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy, can measure at up to six radial locations with maximum sampling rate of 5 kHz. The system is interfaced in real time with the NSTX plasma control system, in order to feed back on plasma velocity by means of actuators such as neutral beams and external coils. The paper describes the design criteria and implementation of the diagnostic. Examples from the initial tests of the system during neon glows are also discussed.     

Spectroscopic diagnostics for liquid lithium divertor studies on National Spherical Torus Experiment

The use of lithium-coated plasma facing components for plasma density control is studied in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). A recently installed liquid lithium divertor (LLD) module has a porous molybdenum surface, separated by a stainless steel liner from a heated copper substrate. Lithium is deposited on the LLD from two evaporators. Two new spectroscopic diagnostics are installed to study the plasma surface interactions on the LLD: (1) A 20-element absolute extreme ultraviolet (AXUV) diode array with a 6 nm bandpass filter centered at 121.6 nm (the Lyman-α transition) for spatially resolved divertor recycling rate measurements in the highly reflective LLD environment, and (2) an ultraviolet-visible-near infrared R=0.67?m imaging Czerny-Turner spectrometer for spatially resolved divertor D I, Li I-II, C I-IV, Mo I, D(2), LiD, CD emission and ion temperature on and around the LLD module. The use of photometrically calibrated measurements together with atomic physics factors enables studies of recycling and impurity particle fluxes as functions of LLD temperature, ion flux, and divertor geometry.     

Overview of the beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic system on the National Spherical Torus Experiment

A beam emission spectroscopy (BES) system has been installed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) to study ion gyroscale fluctuations. The BES system measures D(α) emission from a deuterium neutral heating beam. The system includes two optical views centered at r/a≈0.45 and 0.85 and aligned to magnetic field pitch angles at the neutral beam. f/1.5 collection optics produce 2-3 cm spot sizes at the neutral beam. The initial channel layout includes radial arrays, poloidal arrays, and two-dimensional grids. Radial arrays provide coverage from r/a≈0.1 to beyond the last-closed flux surface. Photodetectors and digital filters provide high-sensitivity, low-noise measurements at frequencies of up to 1 MHz. The BES system will be a valuable tool for investigating ion gyroscale turbulence and Alfve?n/energetic particle modes on NSTX.     

High density Langmuir probe array for NSTX scrape-off layer measurements under lithiated divertor conditions

A high density Langmuir probe array has been developed for measurements of scrape-off layer parameters in NSTX. Relevant scale lengths for heat and particle fluxes are 1-5 cm. Transient edge plasma events can occur on a time scale of several milliseconds, and the duration of a typical plasma discharge is ～1?s. The array consists of 99 individual electrodes arranged in three parallel radial rows to allow both swept and triple-probe operation and is mounted in a carbon tile located in the lower outer divertor of NSTX between two segments of the newly installed liquid lithium divertor. Initial swept probe results tracking the outer strike point through probe flux measurements are presented.     

Use of the Far Infrared Tangential Interferometer/Polarimeter diagnostic for the study of rf driven plasma waves on NSTX

A rf detection system for waves in the 30 MHz range has been constructed for the Far Infrared Tangential Interferometer/Polarimeter on National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). It is aimed at monitoring high frequency density fluctuations driven by 30 MHz high harmonic fast wave fields. The levels of density fluctuations at various radial chords and antenna phase angles can be estimated using the electric field calculated by TORIC code and linearized continuity equation for the electron density. In this paper, the experimental arrangement for the detection of rf signal and preliminary results of simulation will be discussed.     

First real-time detection of surface dust in a tokamak

The first real-time detection of surface dust inside a tokamak was made using an electrostatic dust detector. A fine grid of interlocking circuit traces was installed in the NSTX vessel and biased to 50 V. Impinging dust particles created a temporary short circuit and the resulting current pulse was recorded by counting electronics. The techniques used to increase the detector sensitivity by a factor of ×10,000 to match NSTX dust levels while suppressing electrical pickup are presented. The results were validated by comparison to laboratory measurements, by the null signal from a covered detector that was only sensitive to pickup, and by the dramatic increase in signal when Li particles were introduced for wall conditioning purposes.     

Wide angle crystal spectrometer for angularly and spectrally resolved X-ray scattering experiments

A novel wide angle spectrometer has been implemented with a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite crystal coupled to an image plate. This spectrometer has allowed us to look at the energy resolved spectrum of scattered x rays from a dense plasma over a wide range of angles (approximately 30 degrees ) in a single shot. Using this spectrometer we were able to observe the temporal evolution of the angular scatter cross section from a laser shocked foil. A spectrometer of this type may also be useful in investigations of x-ray line transfer from laser-plasmas experiments.     

Prototype high resolution multienergy soft x-ray array for NSTX

A novel diagnostic design seeks to enhance the capability of multienergy soft x-ray (SXR) detection by using an image intensifier to amplify the signals from a larger set of filtered x-ray profiles. The increased number of profiles and simplified detection system provides a compact diagnostic device for measuring T(e) in addition to contributions from density and impurities. A single-energy prototype system has been implemented on NSTX, comprised of a filtered x-ray pinhole camera, which converts the x-rays to visible light using a CsI:Tl phosphor. SXR profiles have been measured in high performance plasmas at frame rates of up to 10 kHz, and comparisons to the toroidally displaced tangential multi-energy SXR have been made.     

Simulation of a tangential soft x-ray imaging system

Tangentially viewing soft x-ray (SXR) cameras are capable of detecting nonaxisymmetric plasma structures in magnetically confined plasmas. They are particularly useful for studying stationary perturbations or phenomenon that occur on a timescale faster than the plasma rotation period. Tangential SXR camera diagnostics are planned for the DIII-D and NSTX tokamaks to elucidate the static edge magnetic structure during the application of 3D perturbations. To support the design of the proposed diagnostics, a synthetic diagnostic model was developed using the CHIANTI database to estimate the SXR emission. The model is shown to be in good agreement with the measurements from an existing tangential SXR camera diagnostic on NSTX.     

Fringe-jump corrected far infrared tangential interferometer/polarimeter for a real-time density feedback control system of NSTX plasmas

The far infrared tangential interferometer/polarimeter (FIReTIP) of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) has been set up to provide reliable electron density signals for a real-time density feedback control system. This work consists of two main parts: suppression of the fringe jumps that have been prohibiting the plasma density from use in the direct feedback to actuators and the conceptual design of a density feedback control system including the FIReTIP, control hardware, and software that takes advantage of the NSTX plasma control system (PCS). By investigating numerous shot data after July 2009 when the new electronics were installed, fringe jumps in the FIReTIP are well characterized, and consequently the suppressing algorithms are working properly as shown in comparisons with the Thomson scattering diagnostic. This approach is also applicable to signals taken at a 5 kHz sampling rate, which is a fundamental constraint imposed by the digitizers providing inputs to the PCS. The fringe jump correction algorithm, as well as safety and feedback modules, will be included as submodules either in the gas injection system category or a new category of density in the PCS.     

Shock tube coupled to the time-of-flight mass spectrometer via a molecular beam sampling system

A method for continuous mass spectrometric analysis of high-temperature reacting gas mixtures is described. The apparatus consists of a unique combination of three devices: the shock tube, the time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and the supersonic molecular beam. The driven section of the shock tube constitutes the reservoir of a supersonic molecular beam by which gas is continuously extracted from the reaction zone and introduced through a two-stage high-capacity vacuum system into the ionization region of the mass spectrometer. The shock tube and the mass spectrometer are coupled at right angles to one another. This configuration avoids excessive pressure buildup in the mass spectrometer system. The apparatus has an estimated mass resolution of 100 amu, a frequency range of 10-100 kHz, and can be operated over a wide range of shock conditions during the complete high-temperature pulse.     

An optical spectrometer for a confocal scanning laser microscope

An optical spectrometer for the visible range has been developed for the confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM) Phoibos 1000. The spectrometer records information from a single point or a user-defined region within the microscope specimen. A prism disperses the spectral components of the recorded light over a linear CCD photodiode array with 256 elements. A regulated cooling unit cools the diode array, thereby reducing the detector dark current to a level, which allows integration times of up to 60 s. The spectral resolving power, λ/Δλ, ranges from 400 at λ = 375 nm to 100 at λ = 700 nm. Since the entrance aperture of the spectrometer has the same diameter as the detector aperture of the CSLM, the three-dimensional spatial resolution for spectrometer readings is equivalent to that of conventional confocal scanning, that is, down to 0.2 μm lateral and 0.8 μm axial resolution with an N.A.=1.3 objective.     

A new type of x-ray absorption spectrometer

A single-crystal spectrometer for x-ray absorption and emission with a microfocus x-ray source has been set up so that the divergent rays from the source can be analyzed over a wide range of Bragg angles with a high degree of resolution. The covered energy interval depends upon the exposed width of the crystal and the geometrical setup. Preliminary experiments are presented to show the effectiveness of the spectrometer.     

NSTX far infrared tangential interferometer/polarimeter electronics upgrade

New electronics for the multichannel far infrared tangential interferometer/polarimeter system employed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) have greatly extended its capability to monitor high frequency density fluctuations. Such measurements are essential in understanding transport physics issues in NSTX as well as for the coming ITER device. The electronics, which were previously limited to ～250?kHz, have been upgraded with a video bandwidth that extends to 4 MHz when operating as an interferometry-only configuration, and to ～500?kHz when operating as a simultaneous interferometer/polarimeter system. Experimental details and test results of the new electronics are presented.