Vanishing magnetic shear and electron transport barriers in the RFX-mod reversed field pinch.

We define the safety factor q for the helical plasmas of the experiment RFX-mod by accounting for the actual three-dimensional nature of the magnetic flux surfaces. Such a profile is not monotonic but goes through a maximum located in the vicinity of the electron transport barriers measured by a high resolution Thomson scattering diagnostic. Helical states with a single axis obtained in viscoresistive magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations exhibit similar nonmonotonic q profiles provided that the final states are preceded by a magnetic island phase, like in the experiment.

Design of a cavity ring-down spectroscopy diagnostic for negative ion rf source SPIDER.

The rf source test facility SPIDER will test and optimize the source of the 1 MV neutral beam injection systems for ITER. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) will measure the absolute line-of-sight integrated density of negative (H(-) and D(-)) ions, produced in the extraction region of the source. CRDS takes advantage of the photodetachment process: negative ions are converted to neutral hydrogen atoms by electron stripping through absorption of a photon from a laser. The design of this diagnostic is presented with the corresponding simulation of the expected performance. A prototype operated without plasma has provided CRDS reference signals, design validation, and results concerning the signal-to-noise ratio.

Optical measurements for turbulence characterization in RFX-mod edge.

The edge of the reversed field pinch experiment RFX-mod (R=2 m, a=0.46 m) is characterized by a complex magnetic topology and strong pressure gradients. A set of fast spectroscopic diagnostics has been designed to characterize both main plasma edge parameters and turbulence, including coherent structures (blobs) and radial profiles of the thermodynamic variables. Measurements of the edge radial profiles of electron density (n(e)), temperature (T(e)), and pressure (P(e)) are obtained by a thermal helium beam diagnostic, which locally measures the ratios of the spectral lines emitted by a neutral He cloud puffed into hydrogen plasma discharges. A gas puff imaging system allows the high frequency (1 MHz bandwidth) measurement of the fluctuations of He I emissivity in the same positions. The system measures both the intermittent behavior of the edge turbulence and n(e), T(e), and P(e) profiles of the corresponding coherent structures, with a resolution down to 6 µs. The optical diagnostics are complemented by a set of triaxial magnetic coils to simultaneously characterize the edge magnetic field.

Impurities removal by laser blow-off from in-vacuum optical surfaces on RFX-mod experiment.

An in situ window cleaning system by laser blow-off through optical fiber has been developed on the basis of a feasibility study previously presented. The beam generated by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is launched in a vacuum box into a high damage threshold optical fiber through a lens. The fiber output is focused on the impurities-coated surface of a vacuum window exposed to the plasma of the RFX-mod experiment, and it is remotely controlled with an xy motion system to scan the entire surface. We first investigate the energy density threshold necessary to ablate the deposited impurity substrate on removed dirty windows: above threshold, a single laser pulse recovers ∼95% of the window transmission before its exposure to the plasma, while below it the efficiency of the cleaning process is too poor. The system so conceived was then used to clean the three collection windows of the Main Thomson scattering diagnostic on RFX-mod. We also present results obtained applying the same technique to the SiO-protected Al mirror used for the Z(eff) diagnostic: an energy threshold for efficient impurity removal without mirror damage is first identified, then ablation tests are executed and analyzed in terms of recovered reflectivity. The SIMS technique is used both with windows and mirror to study the composition of surfaces before and after the ablation.

In situ window cleaning by laser blowoff through optical fiber.

The feasibility of a window cleaning system based on the laser blowoff technique is investigated to remove the impurity deposition on vacuum windows of the modified reversed field experiment fusion device. The laser pulse is sent to the window through a fused silica fiber optic (phi=1 mm), then focused on its internal surface, single shot ablating up to approximately 5 mm(2) of the impurity layer; the focused pulse is scanned across the window to clean its entire surface. The composition of the deposited layer is studied through the secondary ion mass spectrometry and profilometry techniques. Effectiveness of cleaning is analyzed in terms of quality of the cleaned spot, its dimension, repetition rate of the laser, and its wavelength. The energy damage threshold of the fiber optic is also investigated. Three different lasers (microjoule Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, and ruby) are first tested directly on the window; then only the ruby laser beam is propagated through an optical fiber and tested.

Single-helical-axis states in reversed-field-pinch plasmas.

The transition to a new magnetic topology, characterized by a quasi-single-helicity state with a single helical magnetic axis has been experimentally observed for the first time in a reversed-field-pinch plasma. The occurrence of the new state, which has been dubbed a single-helical-axis state, was found to provide magnetic chaos healing and enhanced thermal content of the plasma. The helical structure extends on both sides of the vessel geometric axis, and is related to exceeding a threshold in the ratio between the amplitude of the dominant MHD mode and the amplitude of the secondary ones.

Enhanced confinement and quasi-single-helicity regimes induced by poloidal current drive.

Enhanced confinement regimes with quasihelical symmetry are reproducibly obtained in the modified reversed field pinch eXperiment (RFX)-mod by reducing the level of internal chaos through the combination of a smooth magnetic boundary (through a virtual shell scheme) and the oscillating poloidal current drive technique. The plasma moves from a chaotic multiple helicity towards a quasi-single-helicity regime with a magnetic island showing high temperature and soft x-ray emissivity. The chaos reduction involves also the plasma outside the island allowing for a global enhanced confinement with an improvement up to 50%.

New Thomson scattering diagnostic on RFX-mod.

This article describes the completely renovated Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostic employed in the modified Reversed Field eXperiment (RFX-mod) since it restarted operation in 2005. The system measures plasma electron temperature and density profiles along an equatorial diameter, measuring in 84 positions with 7 mm spatial resolution. The custom built Nd:YLF laser produces a burst of 10 pulses at 50 Hz with energy of 3 J, providing ten profile measurements in a plasma discharge of about 300 ms duration. An optical delay system accommodates three scattering volumes in each of the 28 interference filter spectrometers. Avalanche photodiodes detect the Thomson scattering signals and allow them to be recorded by means of waveform digitizers. Electron temperature is obtained using an alternative relative calibration method, based on the use of a supercontinuum light source. Rotational Raman scattering in nitrogen has supplied the absolute calibration for the electron density measurements. During RFX-mod experimental campaigns in 2005, the TS diagnostic has demonstrated its performance, routinely providing reliable high resolution profiles.

Active-feedback control of the magnetic boundary for magnetohydrodynamic stabilization of a fusion plasma.

Stable operation with control on magnetohydrodynamic modes has been obtained in the modified reversed field experiment employing a set of 192 feedback controlled saddle coils. Improvements of plasma temperature, confinement (twofold), and pulse length (threefold) and, as a consequence of the magnetic fluctuation reduction, strong mitigation of plasma-wall interaction and mode locking are reported.