Overview and first measurements of the MAST Upgrade bolometer diagnostic.

A suite of multi-channel resistive bolometers has been implemented to measure the total radiation from Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak Upgrade plasmas, with cameras covering the core plasma and lower divertor chamber. Data are digitized and processed using novel field-programmable gate array-based electronics, offering improved compactness and new operational capabilities. A synthetic diagnostic has been developed to explore the quality of 2D reconstructions available from the system and to quantify the uncertainty on quantities such as the total radiated power. Measurements in the first campaign have demonstrated correct functioning of the diagnostic while also highlighting issues with electrical noise and some failure mechanisms of the detectors, as well as significant neutral beam fast-particle losses.

Comparing pedestal structure in JET-ILW H-mode plasmas with a model for stiff ETG turbulent heat transport.

A predictive model for the electron temperature profile of the H-mode pedestal is described, and its results are compared with the pedestal structure of JET-ILW plasmas. The model is based on a scaling for the gyro-Bohm normalized, turbulent electron heat flux [Formula: see text] resulting from electron temperature gradient (ETG) turbulence, derived from results of nonlinear gyrokinetic (GK) calculations for the steep gradient region. By using the local temperature gradient scale length [Formula: see text] in the normalization, the dependence of [Formula: see text] on the normalized gradients [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can be represented by a unified scaling with the parameter [Formula: see text], to which the linear stability of ETG turbulence is sensitive when the density gradient is sufficiently steep. For a prescribed density profile, the value of [Formula: see text] determined from this scaling, required to maintain a constant electron heat flux [Formula: see text] across the pedestal, is used to calculate the temperature profile. Reasonable agreement with measurements is found for different cases, the model providing an explanation of the relative widths and shifts of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] profiles, as well as highlighting the importance of the separatrix boundary conditions. Other cases showing disagreement indicate conditions where other branches of turbulence might dominate. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'H-mode transition and pedestal studies in fusion plasmas'.

Experimental signatures of critically balanced turbulence in MAST.

Beam emission spectroscopy (BES) measurements of ion-scale density fluctuations in the MAST tokamak are used to show that the turbulence correlation time, the drift time associated with ion temperature or density gradients, the particle (ion) streaming time along the magnetic field, and the magnetic drift time are consistently comparable, suggesting a "critically balanced" turbulence determined by the local equilibrium. The resulting scalings of the poloidal and radial correlation lengths are derived and tested. The nonlinear time inferred from the density fluctuations is longer than the other times; its ratio to the correlation time scales as ν(*i)(-0.8 ± 0.1), where ν(*i) = ion collision rate/streaming rate. This is consistent with turbulent decorrelation being controlled by a zonal component, invisible to the BES, with an amplitude exceeding those of the drift waves by ∼ ν(*i)(-0.8).

Beam emission spectroscopy turbulence imaging system for the MAST spherical tokamak.

A new beam emission spectroscopy turbulence imaging system has recently been installed onto the MAST spherical tokamak. The system utilises a high-throughput, direct coupled imaging optics, and a single large interference filter for collection of the Doppler shifted D(α) emission from the ~2 MW heating beam of ~70 keV injection energy. The collected light is imaged onto a 2D array detector with 8 × 4 avalanche photodiode sensors which is incorporated into a custom camera unit to perform simultaneous 14-bit digitization at 2 MHz of all 32 channels. The array is imaged at the beam to achieve a spatial resolution of ~2 cm in the radial (horizontal) and poloidal (vertical) directions, which is sufficient for detection of the ion-scale plasma turbulence. At the typical photon fluxes of ~10(11) s(-1) the achieved signal-to-noise ratio of ~300 at the 0.5 MHz analogue bandwidth is sufficient for detection of relative density fluctuations at the level of a few 0.1%. The system is to be utilised for the study of the characteristics of the broadband, ion-scale turbulence, in particular its interaction with flow shear, as well as coherent fluctuations due to various types of MHD activity.

Calculation of spatial response of 2D beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic on MAST.

The beam emission spectroscopy (BES) turbulence diagnostic on MAST is to be upgraded in June 2010 from a one-dimensional trial system to a two-dimensional imaging system (8 radial×4 poloidal channels) based on a newly developed avalanche photodiode array camera. The spatial resolution of the new system is calculated in terms of the point spread function to account for the effects of field-line curvature, observation geometry, the finite lifetime of the excited state of the beam atoms, and beam attenuation and divergence. It is found that the radial spatial resolution is ∼2-3 cm and the poloidal spatial resolution ∼1-5 cm depending on the radial viewing location. The absolute number of detected photons is also calculated, hence the photon noise level can be determined.

Avalanche photodiode based detector for beam emission spectroscopy.

An avalanche photodiode based (APD) detector for the visible wavelength range was developed for low light level, high frequency beam emission spectroscopy (BES) experiments in fusion plasmas. This solid state detector has higher quantum efficiency than photomultiplier tubes, and unlike normal photodiodes, it has internal gain. This paper describes the developed detector as well as the noise model of the electronic circuit. By understanding the noise sources and the amplification process, the optimal amplifier and APD reverse voltage setting can be determined, where the signal-to-noise ratio is the highest for a given photon flux. The calculations are compared to the absolute calibration results of the implemented circuit. It was found that for a certain photon flux range, relevant for BES measurements (≈10(8)-10(10) photons/s), the new detector is superior to both photomultipliers and photodiodes, although it does not require cryogenic cooling of any component. The position of this photon flux window sensitively depends on the parameters of the actual experimental implementation (desired bandwidth, detector size, etc.) Several detector units based on these developments have been built and installed in various tokamaks. Some illustrative results are presented from the 8-channel trial BES system installed at Mega-Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST) and the 16-channel BES system installed at the Torus Experiment for Technology Oriented Research (TEXTOR).

Beam emission spectroscopy for density turbulence measurements on the MAST spherical tokamak.

Beam emission spectroscopy (BES) of the energetic deuterium (D(0)) heating beams can provide a means of characterizing the density turbulence in tokamak plasmas. First such measurements have been performed on the MAST spherical tokamak using a trial BES system, which shares the collection optics of the charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy system. This system, with eight spatial channels covering the outer part of the plasma cross section, uses avalanche photodiode detectors with custom preamplifiers to provide measurements at 1 MHz bandwidth with a spatial resolution of 4 cm. Simulations of the measurement, including the beam absorption and excitation, line-of-sight integration of the emission spectrum, and the characteristics of the detection system have been benchmarked against the measured absolute intensity of the Doppler shifted Dalpha fluorescence from the 50 keV beam. This gives confidence in predictions of the performance of a two-dimensional imaging BES system planned for MAST. Correlation techniques have also provided information on the characteristics of the density turbulence at the periphery of L-mode plasmas as well as density perturbations due to coherent magnetohydrodynamic activity at the edge of H-mode plasmas. Precursor oscillations of the density in the pedestal region to edge-localized modes occurring during H-mode plasmas with a single-null diverted magnetic configuration are also observable in the raw signals from the trial BES system.

Surgical scrubbing: can we clean up our carbon footprints by washing our hands?

A growing scientific consensus states that the global climate is changing and that human activity is responsible for these changes. It folLows that each of us has a responsibility to look at how our own lives impact on the environment. This study aimed to investigate water use during surgical scrubbing. Two water delivery systems were assessed to see whether technological innovation can promote more 'environmentally friendly' scrubbing behaviour. At least 10 different individuals, comprising surgeons, assistants and scrub nurses, were observed at two sites. Twenty-five separate surgical scrubs were observed in each location and the length of time for which the tap was on recorded. The tap was on during surgical scrubbing for a mean of 2 min 23 s at Gartnavel General Hospital (maximum: 4 min 37 s; minimum: 49 s; SD: 55 s) and for a mean of 1 min 7 s at Stobhill Hospital (maximum: 2 min 25 s; minimum: 19 s; SD: 33 s). The mean 'tap on' time (in seconds) at Gartnavel was significantly greater than that at Stobhill [t(39.5)=P<0.001]. A different tap design resulted in a net saving of 5.7 L of hot water, approximately 600 kJ of energy and 80 g of carbon dioxide emitted per surgical scrub. Surgical scrubbing is a ubiquitous procedure performed daily in healthcare settings. A simple technological solution can reduce water and energy use by modifying hand-washing behaviour and thereby reduce the carbon footprint of surgical scrubbing.

L-H transition in the mega-amp spherical tokamak.

H-mode plasmas have been achieved on the MAST spherical tokamak at input power considerably higher than predicted by conventional threshold scalings. Following L- H transition, a clear improvement in energy confinement is obtained, exceeding recent international scalings even at densities approaching the Greenwald density limit. Transition is accompanied by an order-of-magnitude increase in edge-density gradient, a marked decrease in turbulence, the efficient conversion of internal electron Bernstein waves into free space waves, and the onset and saturation of edge poloidal rotation.