Magnetic measurements using array of integrated Hall sensors on the CASTOR tokamak

We have performed the first tests of "integrated" Hall sensors (IHSs) in a tokamak in-vessel environment. IHS combines the sensing element together with the complex electronic circuitry on a single small chip. The on-chip integrated circuits provide stabilization of the supply voltage, output amplification, noise suppression, and elimination of temperature dependencies. Eight IHSs of A1322LUA type produced by Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. were mounted on a stainless steel ring symmetrically encircling the CASTOR plasmas in poloidal direction 10 mm outside the limiter radius. IHSs were oriented such that they measure the horizontal and vertical magnetic fields. We found out that these sensors qualify for in-vessel use of small to middle sized fusion devices where the radiation is not an issue and the temperature below 150 degrees C can be guaranteed. The main advantages over the traditional pickup coils are the smaller size and more straightforward interpretation of output without the need of rather cumbersome integration and drift removal procedure associated with the use of inductive loops. We successfully exploited the sensors for determination of vertical plasma displacement on CASTOR. This new diagnostic helped us to shed more light into long term observed discrepancy on CASTOR between vertical plasma displacement as deduced by standard magnetic and by nonmagnetic diagnostics (Langmuir probes, bolometers).