Advances in the FTU collective Thomson scattering system

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Fusion Energy Research

Background:

• The Frascati Tokamak Upgrade (FTU) is a crucial facility for magnetic confinement fusion research.
• Understanding plasma behavior, particularly instabilities like tearing modes, is essential for achieving controlled fusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the initial operations and ongoing investigations of the new collective Thomson scattering diagnostic on the FTU.
• To explore potential parametric decay processes linked to rotating tearing mode islands.
• To study phenomena impacting electron cyclotron beam absorption and scattering measurements.

Main Methods:

• Installation and operation of a new collective Thomson scattering diagnostic system.
• Improvements to the radiometric system, diagnostic layout, and data acquisition system.
• Analysis of experimental data to identify synchronous signals and plasma phenomena.

Main Results:

• The diagnostic has commenced operations, enabling new experimental investigations.
• Initial findings suggest potential correlations between Thomson scattering signals and rotating tearing mode islands.
• Observed phenomena may influence electron cyclotron beam interactions within the plasma.

Conclusions:

• The new Thomson scattering diagnostic is a valuable tool for FTU research.
• Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the observed plasma phenomena and their implications for fusion energy.
• Ongoing system development will enhance the diagnostic's capabilities for future experiments.