M. Krychowiak

Status of electron temperature and density measurement with beam emission spectroscopy on thermal helium at TEXTOR

Beam emission spectroscopy on thermal helium is used at the TEXTOR tokamak as a reliable method to obtain radial profiles of electron temperature T-e(r, t) and electron density ne(r, t). In this paper the experimental realization of this method at TEXTOR and the status of the atomic physics employed as well as the major factors for the measurements accuracy are evaluated. On the experimental side, the hardware specifications are described and the impact of the beam atoms on the local plasma parameters is shown to be negligible. On the modeling side the collisional-radiative model (CRM) applied to infer ne and Te from the measured He line intensities is evaluated. The role of proton and deuteron collisions and of charge exchange processes is studied with a new CRM and the impact of these so far neglected processes appears to be of minor importance. Direct comparison to Thomson scattering and fast triple probe data showed that for high densities ne > 3.5 x 10(19) m(-3) the T-e values deduced with the established CRM are too low. However, the new atomic data set implemented in the new CRM leads in general to higher Te values. This allows us to specify the range of reliable application of BES on thermal helium to a range of 2.0 x 10(18) < n(e) < 2.0 x 10(19) m(-3) and 10eV < T-e < 250eV which can be extended by routine application of the new CRM.

Feasibility of line-ratio spectroscopy on helium and neon as edge diagnostic tool for Wendelstein 7-X

A beam emission spectroscopy system on thermal helium (He) and neon (Ne) has been set up at Wendelstein 7-X to measure edge electron temperature and density profiles utilizing the line-ratio technique or its extension by the analysis of absolutely calibrated line emissions. The setup for a first systematic test of these techniques of quantitative atomic spectroscopy in the limiter startup phase (OP1.1) is reported together with first measured profiles. This setup and the first results are an important test for developing the technique for the upcoming high density, low temperature island divertor regime.

Status of the diagnostics development for the first operation phase of the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X

An overview of the diagnostics which are essential for the first operational phase of Wendelstein 7-X and the set of diagnostics expected to be ready for operation at this time are presented. The ongoing investigations of how to cope with high levels of stray Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) radiation in the ultraviolet (UV)/visible/infrared (IR) optical diagnostics are described.

Bayesian modelling of a thermal helium beam for measurement of electron density and temperature in the W7-X divertor plasma

In Greifswald/Germany W7-X, a new stellarator-type fusion plasma experiment, is currently being built. For the investigation of the divertor plasma two thermal helium beams are foreseen. This diagnostic is routinely used on several fusion plasma experiments and is capable of measuring radial profiles of electron density and temperature with good spatial and temporal resolution in the range of typical edge plasma parameters ne = 1018–1019 m−3 and Te = 20–200 eV. The penetration depth of the beam is limited by electron collisional ionization of the helium atoms and amounts to 3–8 cm in this parameter range. In this paper we investigate the beam propagation for detached plasma conditions in the W7-X divertor region (based on a background plasma simulated with a 3D plasma and neutral transport code EMC3/EIRENE), in which the electron density in the divertor may well exceed 1020 m−3, as observed in the predecessor experiment W7-AS. In this regime the beam penetration drops to 1–2 cm. Through a Bayesian approach, we include uncertainties of all rate coefficients for electronic excitation and ionization used in the collisional–radiative model of atomic helium based on a steady-state approximation valid for a relaxed thermal or supersonic beam. Bayesian inversion of simulated signals for W7-X conditions provides a reliable quantitative estimation of the propagation of uncertainties of the atomic data to the ne and Te errors as well as input for potential improvements of the diagnostic setup. For example, the temperature error at Te = 5 eV and ne = 1020 m−3 can be reduced from approximately 50% to 9% by absolute calibration of the observation system and fitting of three absolute line intensities instead of two line intensity ratios to the model.

Synthetic plasma edge diagnostics for EMC3-EIRENE, highlighted for Wendelstein 7-X

Interpretation of spectroscopic measurements in the edge region of high-temperature plasmas can be a challenge since line of sight integration effects make direct interpretation in terms of quantitative, local emission strengths often impossible. The EMC3-EIRENE code-a 3D fluid edge plasma and kinetic neutral gas transport code-is a suitable tool for full 3D reconstruction of such signals. A versatile synthetic diagnostic module has been developed recently which allows the realistic 3D setup of various plasma edge diagnostics to be captured. We highlight these capabilities with two examples for Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X): a visible camera for the analysis of recycling, and a coherent-imaging system for velocity measurements.

Diagnostic design for steady-state operation of the W7-X stellarator

The status of the diagnostic developments for the quasistationary operable stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (maximum pulse length of 30 min at 10 MW ECRH heating at 140 GHz) will be reported on. Significant emphasis is being given to the issue of ECRH stray radiation shielding of in-vessel diagnostic components, which will be critical at high density operation requiring O2 and OXB heating.

LIF measurements for validation of collisional-radiative modelling of atomic helium in the edge of a fusion plasma

Local values of the electron density and temperature in the edge of a fusion plasma can be derived with high space and time resolution by the use of line radiation of atomic helium beams. The accuracy of this method is mainly limited by the uncertainties in the collisional-radiative (CR) model which is needed in order to obtain both plasma parameters from the measured relative intensities of atomic helium lines. Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy on a thermal helium beam in the edge plasma of the tokamak TEXTOR in Julich was applied to validate the CR model of helium. By use of a high-power, pulsed laser system (a dye laser pumped by an excimer laser) several laser excitation schemes starting from the n=2 levels have been tried. The fluorescence light was observed at the laser wavelength and elsewhere in the spectrum providing information on population densities of initial levels as well as on collisional population transfer between excited levels. This paper summarises the results of the measurements, showing principal limits and possible improvements of this experimental validation method of the CR model of the diagnostic helium beam.

LIF measurements on an atomic helium beam in the edge of a fusion plasma

A method for the absolute measurement of population densities of selected atomic helium levels, which has been applied on the tokamak TEXTOR at the Forschungszentrum Julich in Germany, is presented. The method is based on the resonant excitation of selected levels by a high-power, narrow-band, pulsed laser beam saturating the optical pumping process. Observation of the fluorescence response is performed at the laser wavelength and elsewhere in the spectrum: this gives information on collisional population transfer between some excited levels. Data analysis, as required for the derivation of absolute population densities, includes due consideration of the Zeeman splitting of spectral lines in a strong magnetic field. The first results of the measured population densities are compared with those provided by simulation based on the collisional–radiative model for atomic helium in the edge of fusion plasmas. This code has been extended to include the laser interaction with atomic helium, in order to simulate the measured time traces of radiation from the laser-perturbed levels. A combination of this simulation procedure with laser-induced fluorescence measurements is suggested as a possible method for determining the electron density in the edge plasma.

Impact of magnetic islands in the plasma edge on particle fueling and exhaust in the HSX and W7-X stellarators

The edge magnetic structure in the Helically Symmetric eXperiment (HSX) and Wendelstein 7X (W7-X) stellarators has been shown to have a significant impact on the particle fueling and exhaust of the plasma main species (hydrogen) as well as impurity helium. For HSX, the plasma sourcing to exhaust ratio, quantified by the effective and global particle confinement times τ p * and τ p , H , respectively, increases when a magnetic island chain is located in the plasma edge. The fueling efficiency is reduced by 25% when the plasma boundary is deformed by the magnetic islands. The X-point geometry also yields higher plasma temperatures in front of the main recycling region. When the island is moved radially inward, both τ p * and τp decrease by 10 % – 25 % depending on plasma density. The τ p , H results rely heavily on EMC3-EIRENE modeling which confirms reduced fueling efficiency due to more rapid ionization in the outward shifted island position. These findings suggest that for a helically optimized system like HSX, the plasma fueling from the recycling source, as well as from active gas injection, can be controlled by the magnetic island chain in the plasma edge—which is a basic requirement for a divertor system. This process is also effective for the control of effective helium exhaust times, as τ p , H e * measured by perturbative gas puff experiments is reduced by up to 40% when the islands are shifted inwards. For Wendelstein 7-X, a similar reduction of τ p , H e * was inferred when magnetic islands were moved from the far plasma edge into the confined plasma region. However, the effective confinement features of H as the main plasma species were not affected due to the non-optimal position of the magnetic islands with respect to the highly localized ionization domain during the limiter startup campaign.The edge magnetic structure in the Helically Symmetric eXperiment (HSX) and Wendelstein 7X (W7-X) stellarators has been shown to have a significant impact on the particle fueling and exhaust of the plasma main species (hydrogen) as well as impurity helium. For HSX, the plasma sourcing to exhaust ratio, quantified by the effective and global particle confinement times τ p * and τ p , H , respectively, increases when a magnetic island chain is located in the plasma edge. The fueling efficiency is reduced by 25% when the plasma boundary is deformed by the magnetic islands. The X-point geometry also yields higher plasma temperatures in front of the main recycling region. When the island is moved radially inward, both τ p * and τp decrease by 10 % – 25 % depending on plasma density. The τ p , H results rely heavily on EMC3-EIRENE modeling which confirms reduced fueling efficiency due to...

Web Services for 3D MHD Equilibrium Data at Wendelstein 7-X

Consistent physics and engineering models are required for many use cases at Wendelstein 7-X. Web service technology is used to provide convenient access to common software components and experiment data. The usage of standard web protocols allows the integration in client software written in any programming language. This leads to a better reusability of expert codes and experiment data by a large international team. At W7-X, web services provide common functions such as Biot–Savart calculations and magnetic field line tracing. Further services provide access to databases for diagnostic data or machine models. A new web service was implemented for the creation of 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium calculations and a user-friendly access to the results. Consistent interface definitions allow an orchestration of the W7-X web services by user code, as well as a seamless integration into a data analysis framework. In this paper, we present the current state of the MHD equilibrium web services at Wendelstein 7-X.