Evaluation of the operating space for density fluctuation measurements employing 2D imaging reflectometry

Microwave imaging reflectometry provides broad poloidal coverage as a density fluctuation measurement tool. 2D imaging systems are evaluated for DIII-D relevant conditions using a full-wave reflectometer code, FWR2D. Reasonable correlation of the synthetic diagnostic signal with density fluctuations at the plasma cutoff surface for a wide range of fluctuation parameters is evaluated and achieved for coherent oscillations; also the frequency spectra are compared for relevant fluctuations. The consequences of non-idealities inherent to imaging fluctuations away from the plasma midplane, where receiving antennas view the plasma cutoff at oblique angles, are evaluated for the optimization of these systems.