Energy levels and transition data of 3p63d8 and 3p53d9 configurations in Fe-like ions (Z = 57, 60, 62, 64, 65)

Atomic data of highly charged ions (HCIs) offer an attractive means for plasma diagnostic and stars identification, and the investigations on atomic data are highly desirable. Herein, based on the fully relativistic multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) method, we have performed calculations of the fine structure energy levels, wavelengths, transition rates, oscillator strengths, and line strengths for the lowest 21 states of 3p63d8 - 3p53d9 electric dipole (E1) transitions configurations in Fe-like ions (Z = 57, 60, 62, 64, 65). The correlation effects of valence-valence (VV) and core-valence (CV) electrons were systematically considered. In addition, we have taken into account transverse-photon (Breit) interaction and quantum electrodynamics (QED) corrections to treat accurately the atomic state wave functions in the final relativistic configuration interaction (RCI) calculations. Our calculated energy levels and transition wavelengths are in excellent agreement with the available experimental and theoretical results. Most importantly, we predicted some new transition parameters that have not yet been reported. These data would further provide critical insights into better analyzing the physical processes of various astrophysical plasmas.

Plasma diagnostic systems and methods used on the stellarator TJ-II

The TJ-II is a heliac-type stellarator device with major radius of 1.5 m and averaged minor radius ⩽0.22 m that has been operated at CIEMAT, Madrid since 1998. Its full magnetic field is created by a system of poloidal, central, toroidal and vertical field coils, thus it possesses a fully 3-dimensional plasma structure and a bean-shaped plasma cross-section. Although this results in a complicated vacuum-vessel layout, it has excellent port access for diagnostics (96 portholes). During its initial operational phase, it was equipped with a limited set of essential diagnostics. Since then, a broad variety and large number of both passive and active diagnostics have been installed. The former include Hα monitors, light spectrometers, an electron cyclotron emission radiometer, X-ray filter monitors, neutral particle analysers, magnetic diagnostics, as well as cameras, among others, while the latter include various laser, atomic and ion beam based diagnostics, microwave probe beams, Langmuir probes plus impurity injection techniques. In this paper, after describing the TJ-II stellarator, its heating and fuelling systems, the diagnostic systems employed are outlined and discussed briefly here. Finally, results obtained with selected systems are highlighted.

Distortion of Thomson Parabolic-Like Proton Patterns Due to Electromagnetic Interference

Intense electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) accompany the production of plasma when a high-intensity laser irradiates a solid target. The EMP occurs both during and long after the end of the laser pulse (up to hundreds of nanoseconds) within and outside the interaction chamber, and interferes with nearby electronics, which may lead to the disruption or malfunction of plasma diagnostic devices. This contribution reports a correlation between the frequency spectrum of the EMP and the distortion of Thomson parabola tracks of protons observed at the kJ-class PALS laser facility in Prague. EMP emission was recorded using a simple flat antenna. Ions accelerated from the front side of the target were simultaneously detected by a Thomson parabola ion spectrometer. The comparison of the two signals suggests that the EMP may be considered to be the source of parabolic track distortion.

Real-time feedback control of the impurity emission front in tokamak divertor plasmas

In magnetic confinement thermonuclear fusion the exhaust of heat and particles from the core remains a major challenge. Heat and particles leaving the core are transported via open magnetic field lines to a region of the reactor wall, called the divertor. Unabated, the heat and particle fluxes may become intolerable and damage the divertor. Controlled ‘plasma detachment’, a regime characterized by both a large reduction in plasma pressure and temperature at the divertor target, is required to reduce fluxes onto the divertor. Here we report a systematic approach towards achieving this critical need through feedback control of impurity emission front locations and its experimental demonstration. Our approach comprises a combination of real-time plasma diagnostic utilization, dynamic characterization of the plasma in proximity to the divertor, and efficient, reliable offline feedback controller design.

AN APPLICATION OF MICROWAVES REFRACTION FOR INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA DIAGNOSTIC

A brief review of the main microwave diagnostics methods of inhomogeneous plasma based on the refraction of microwaves is given. These methods make it possible to determine the plasma density distribution, the magnetic field distribution, the electron collision frequency, and the electron temperature profile. In addition, the determination of the average density of the peripheral plasma layers and the local inhomogeneities of the rotating plasma are also possible. The effect of refraction on the accuracy of determining the plasma parameters by using microwave methods for plasma diagnostics is considered.