Invited Article: A novel calibration method for the JET real-time far infrared polarimeter and integration of polarimetry-based line-integrated density measurements for machine protection of a fusion plant

In this paper, we present the work in the implementation of a new calibration for the JET real-time polarimeter based on the complex amplitude ratio technique and a new self-validation mechanism of data. This allowed easy integration of the polarimetry measurements into the JET plasma density control (gas feedback control) and as well as machine protection systems (neutral beam injection heating safety interlocks). The new addition was used successfully during 2014 JET Campaign and is envisaged that will operate routinely from 2015 campaign onwards in any plasma condition (including ITER relevant scenarios). This mode of operation elevated the importance of the polarimetry as a diagnostic tool in the view of future fusion experiments.

Upgrade of the JET far infrared interferometer diagnostic

In recent years there has been a major upgrade of the JET far infrared diagnostic system consisting of a new laser system with the wavelength at 118.8 μm at and more advanced processing electronics for phase counting. This provides a second colour measurement of the electron plasma density on the vertical system. Due to the shorter wavelength, the plasma induced laser beam refraction is reduced by a factor of three alleviating density errors caused by loss of signal (so-called "fringe jumps" [A. Murari et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 073505 (2006)]), in particular during high performance plasmas experiments in JET.

Evaluation of the Faraday angle by numerical methods and comparison with the Tore Supra and JET polarimeter electronics

On the Tore Supra tokamak, a far infrared polarimeter diagnostic has been routinely used for diagnosing the current density by measuring the Faraday rotation angle. A high precision of measurement is needed to correctly reconstruct the current profile. To reach this precision, electronics used to compute the phase and the amplitude of the detected signals must have a good resilience to the noise in the measurement. In this article, the analogue card's response to the noise coming from the detectors and their impact on the Faraday angle measurements are analyzed, and we present numerical methods to calculate the phase and the amplitude. These validations have been done using real signals acquired by Tore Supra and JET experiments. These methods have been developed to be used in real-time in the future numerical cards that will replace the Tore Supra present analogue ones.

Recent developments of the JET far-infrared interferometer-polarimeter diagnostic

The far-infrared diagnostic provides essential internal measurements of the plasma density and magnetic field topology (q-profile via Faraday rotation angle) in real-time. The diagnostic capabilities have recently been extended in a number of key areas. Fast interferometer data, with 10 μs time resolution, and a new MATLAB code have allowed improved analysis of the evolution of density profiles during fast events such as vertical plasma displacements, edge localized mode, pellet fuelling, and disruptions. Using the polarimeter measurements in real-time, a new calibration procedure has been developed based on a propagation code using the Mueller matrix formalism. A further major upgrade of the system is presently underway: adding a second color laser to the vertical channels and implementing a new phase counter based on analog zero crossing and field-programmable gate array boards.

Analysis and improvements of fringe jump corrections by electronics on the JET tokamak far infrared interferometer

For the Tore Supra interferometer phase measurements, an electronics had been developed electronics using field programmable gate array processors. The embedded algorithm can correct the fringe jumps. For comparison, the electronics ran at JET during the 2009 campaign. The first analysis concluded that the electronics was not correcting all the fringe jumps. An analysis of the failures led to improvements in the algorithm, which was tested during the rest of the campaign. In this article, we evaluate the increases in the performance. From the analysis of the remaining faults, further improvements are discussed for designing future boards that are foreseen for JET using the second wavelength and the Cotton–Mouton effect information.

Mutual interaction of Faraday rotation and Cotton–Mouton phase shift in JET polarimetric measurements

The paper presents a study of Faraday rotation (FR) angle and Cotton–Mouton (CM) phase shift measurements to determine their mutual interaction and the validity of the linear models presently used in equilibrium codes. Comparison between time traces of measurements and model calculations leads to the result that only an exact numerical solution of Stokes equations can reproduce in all the experimental data. As a consequence, approximated linear models can be applied only in a limited range of plasma parameters. In general, the nonlinear coupling between FR and CM is important for the evaluation of polarimetry parameters.

Observation of confined current ribbon in JET plasmas

We report the identification of a localized current structure inside the JET plasma. It is a field-aligned closed helical ribbon, carrying current in the same direction as the background current profile (cocurrent), rotating toroidally with the ion velocity (corotating). It appears to be located at a flat spot in the plasma pressure profile, at the top of the pedestal. The structure appears spontaneously in low density, high rotation plasmas, and can last up to 1.4 s, a time comparable to a local resistive time. It considerably delays the appearance of the first edge localized mode.

A new calibration code for the JET polarimeter

An equivalent model of JET polarimeter is presented, which overcomes the drawbacks of previous versions of the fitting procedures used to provide calibrated results. First of all the signal processing electronics has been simulated, to confirm that it is still working within the original specifications. Then the effective optical path of both the vertical and lateral chords has been implemented to produce the calibration curves. The principle approach to the model has allowed obtaining a unique procedure which can be applied to any manual calibration and remains constant until the following one. The optical model of the chords is then applied to derive the plasma measurements. The results are in good agreement with the estimates of the most advanced full wave propagation code available and have been benchmarked with other diagnostics. The devised procedure has proved to work properly also for the most recent campaigns and high current experiments.

Systematic comparison between line integrated densities measured with interferometry and polarimetry at JET

A systematic comparison between the line integrated electron density derived from interferometry and polarimetry at JET has been carried out. For the first time the reliability of the measurements of the Cotton-Mouton effect has been analyzed for a wide range of main plasma parameters and the possibility to evaluate the electron density directly from polarimetric data has been studied. The purpose of this work is to recover the interferometric data with the density derived from the measured Cotton-Mouton effect, when the fringe jump phenomena occur. The results show that the difference between the line integrated electron density from interferometry and polarimetry is with one fringe (1.143 x 10(19) m(-2)) for more than 90% of the cases. It is possible to consider polarimetry as a satisfactory alternative method to interferometry to measure the electron density and it could be used to recover interferometric signal when a fringe jumps occurs, preventing difficulties for the real-time control of many experiments at the JET machine.

Accuracy of EFIT equilibrium reconstruction with internal diagnostic information at JET

In tokamak experiments, equilibrium reconstruction codes are used to calculate the location of the last closed flux surface, to map diagnostic information, and to derive important properties like current density and safety factor. At JET, the equilibrium code EFIT is automatically executed after each discharge. For speed and robustness, intershot EFIT is based on magnetic probe measurements only. As a consequence, the intershot profiles of the safety factor can be wrong for a variety of plasma scenarios. Internal diagnostic information, the pitch angle as measured with the motional stark effect, Faraday rotation angles, as well as pressure profile information can increase the accuracy of the EFIT equilibrium. In this paper, the accuracy of the internal diagnostics at JET and their impact on the EFIT results are discussed in detail. The influence of control parameters like the form of the test functions for ff' and p' on the equilibrium is investigated. The q(min) from this analysis agrees with information from magnetohydrodynamics analysis (e.g., Alfvén cascades and sawtooth analysis) to within 10%-15%.

Real-time electron density measurements from Cotton-Mouton effect in JET machine

Real-time density profile measurements are essential for advanced fusion tokamak operation and interferometry is a proven method for this task. Nevertheless, as a consequence of edge localized modes, pellet injections, fast density increases, or disruptions, the interferometer is subject to fringe jumps, which produce loss of the signal preventing reliable use of the measured density in a real-time feedback controller. An alternative method to measure the density is polarimetry based on the Cotton-Mouton effect, which is proportional to the line-integrated electron density. A new analysis approach has been implemented and tested to verify the reliability of the Cotton-Mouton measurements for a wide range of plasma parameters and to compare the density evaluated from polarimetry with that from interferometry. The density measurements based on polarimetry are going to be integrated in the real-time control system of JET since the difference with the interferometry is within one fringe for more than 90% of the cases.

Forward modeling of JET polarimetry diagnostic

An analytical Bayesian inversion of the JET interferometry line integrated densities into density profiles and associated uncertainty information, is demonstrated. These are used, with a detailed model of plasma polarimetry, to predict the rotation and ellipticity for the JET polarimeter. This includes the lateral channels, for over 45,000 time points over 1313 JET pulses. Good agreement with measured values is shown for a number of channels. For the remaining channels, the requirement of a more detailed model of the diagnostic is demonstrated. A commonly used approximation for the Cotton-Mouton effect on the lateral channels is also evaluated.