F. Belli

First neutron spectroscopy measurements with a pixelated diamond detector at JET

A prototype Single crystal Diamond Detector (SDD) was installed at the Joint European Torus (JET) in 2013 along an oblique line of sight and demonstrated the possibility to carry out neutron spectroscopy measurements with good energy resolution and detector stability in discharges heated by neutral beam injection and radio-frequency waves. Starting from these positive results, within the Vertical Neutron Spectrometer project of the Joint European Torus, we have developed a pixelated instrument consisting of a matrix of 12 independent SDDs, called the Diamond Vertical Neutron Spectrometer (DVNS), which boosts the detection efficiency of a single SDD by an order of magnitude. In this paper we describe the main features of the DVNS, including the detector design, energy resolution, and data acquisition system for on-line processing. Preliminary spectroscopy measurements of 2.5 MeV neutrons from the present deuterium plasma at JET are finally presented.

Fusion alpha-particle diagnostics for DT experiments on the joint European torus

JET equipped with ITER-like wall (a beryllium wall and a tungsten divertor) can provide auxiliary heating with power up to 35MW, producing a significant population of α-particles in DT operation. The direct measurements of alphas are very difficult and α-particle studies require a significant development of dedicated diagnostics. JET now has an excellent set of confined and lost fast particle diagnostics for measuring the α-particle source and its evolution in space and time, α-particle energy distribution, and α-particle losses. This paper describes how the above mentioned JET diagnostic systems could be used for α-particle measurements, and what options exist for keeping the essential α-particle diagnostics functioning well in the presence of intense DT neutron flux. Also, α-particle diagnostics for ITER are discussed.

Application of a digital pileup resolving method to high count rate neutron measurements

The possibility of working in high count rate conditions is an important issue for neutron measurements applied to fusion experiments in order to extend the measurement dynamic range and time resolution. One of the main issues of high count rate operation is the overlapping of closely spaced events (pileup) that produces a distortion in their amplitude and therefore in the pulse height spectra. The usual way to deal with such pileup events using standard analog electronics is to reject them in the energy analysis process. Thanks to digital acquisition techniques, the waveforms of pileup events can be recorded and elaborated in order to reconstruct the contributing original single events. This work presents the results of the application of a pileup resolving method for the reconstruction and analysis of overlapping events to pulses acquired digitally from a NE213 liquid scintillator detector. The measurements have been carried out at the PTB accelerator facility with 14 MeV neutrons at total count rates over 400 kHz.

JET diagnostic enhancements in preparation for DT operations

In order to complete the exploitation of the JET ITER-like Wall and to take full benefit from deuterium-tritium experiments on JET, a set of diagnostic system refurbishments or upgrades is in progress. These diagnostic enhancements focus mainly on neutron, gamma, fast ions, instabilities, and operations support. These efforts intend to provide better spatial, temporal, and energy resolution while increasing measurement coverage. Also previously non-existing capabilities, such as Doppler reflectometry is now available for scientific exploitation. Guaranteeing diagnostic reliability and consistency during the expected DT conditions is also a critical objective of the work and systems being implemented. An overview of status and scope of the ongoing projects is presented.

Neutron emission profiles and energy spectra measurements at JET

The Joint European Toras (JET, Culham, UK) is the largest tokamak in the world. It is devoted to nuclear fusion experiments of magnetic confined Deuterium (D) or Deuterium-Tritium (DT) plasmas. JET has been upgraded over the years and recently it has also become a test facility of the components designed for ITER, the next step fusion machine under construction in Cadarache (France). JET makes use of many different diagnostics to measure the physical quantities of interest in plasma experiments. Concerning D or DT plasmas neutron production, various types of detectors are implemented to provide information upon the neutron total yield, emission profile and energy spectrum. The neutron emission profile emitted from the JET plasma poloidal section is reconstructed using the neutron camera (KN3). In 2010 KN3 was equipped with a new digital data acquisition system capable of high rate neutron measurements (<0.5 MCps). A similar instrument will be implemented on ITER and it is currently in its design phase. Va...

Neutron emission spectroscopy of D plasmas at JET with a compact liquid scintillating neutron spectrometer

Neutron emission spectroscopy is a diagnostic technique that allows for energy measurements of neutrons born in nuclear reactions. The JET tokamak fusion experiment (Culham, UK) has a special role in this respect as advanced spectrometers for 2.5 MeV and 14 MeV neutrons have been developed here for the first time for measurements of the neutron emission spectrum from D and DT plasmas with unprecedented accuracy. Twin liquid scintillating neutron spectrometers were built and calibrated at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) (Braunschweig, Germany) and installed on JET in the recent years with tangential-equatorial (KM12) and vertical-radial (KM13) view lines, with the latter only recently operational. This article reports on the performance of KM12 and on the development of the data analysis methods in order to extract physics information upon D ions kinematics in JET auxiliary-heated D plasmas from 2.5 MeV neutron measurements. The comparison of these results with the correspondents from other JET neutron spectrometers is also presented: their agreement allows for JET unique capability of multi-lines of sight neutron spectroscopy and for benchmarking other 14 MeV neutron spectrometers installed on the same lines of sight in preparation for the DT experimental campaign at JET.

JET diagnostic enhancements testing and commissioning in preparation for DT scientific campaigns

In order to optimize the scientific exploitation of JET (Joint European Torus) during the upcoming deuterium-tritium experiments, a set of diagnostic systems is being enhanced. These upgrades focus mainly on the experimental and operational conditions expected during tritium campaigns. It should be stressed that measurements relevant for burning plasmas are specifically targeted. Previously non-available capabilities, such as a current measurement system fully covering all poloidal field circuits, are described in detail. Instrument descriptions, performance prediction, testing, and initial commissioning results of these systems are presented.