Experimental study of the operation regimes of the plasma density in Tokamak Start and diagnostic systems

Author(s)

Celso Ribeiro

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física (IF/SBI)
• Defense date: 2003-12-12

Examining board members

Alvaro Vannucci; Edson Del Bosco; Roberto Antonio Clemente; Gerson Otto Ludwig; Ruy Pepe da Silva

• Advisor: Ricardo Magnus Osorio Galvao

Abstract

Low Aspect Ratio Tokamaks (LARTs) or Spherical Tokamaks (STs) are devices theoretically conceived to have the high toroidal T of the Reversed- Field Pinch and Spheromak (T but similar geometry to an ultra-LART) whilst retaining the confinement of the conventional Tokamak together with improved stability. Here T = (1/Vp) f pdV/ (B2TO/2o) BT= BT (Ro), and p is the plasma pressure. START was the first LART to demonstrate these features at temperatures of Tt ~Te ~102eV. The work described in this thesis has aimed to develop and use diagnostics and their use for studying the density operating regimes on START. A double-pass mid plane interferometer was commissioned for measuring the plasma density. This system was composed by an existing HCN laser (337 ), an optical table, and detectors (Schottky diodes). (AU)