Acousto-optic spectrum analyzer for plasma diagnostics

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1139419· OSTI ID:6489535

Irby, J H; Beals, D

An acousto-optic rf spectrometer (AOS) has been designed and constructed for use on the CONSTANCE B and TARA mirror experiments at MIT. The AOS is an analog preprocessor of data that can come from a variety of sources, including rf probes and microwave/laser scattering experiments. The output of the AOS is the Fourier transform amplitude of the input in a parallel format suitable for computer acquisition. The spectrometer, having a bandwidth of 500 MHz and a resolution of 1 MHz, together with its receiver, is capable of looking at fluctuations anywhere in the frequency range of a few MHz up to 4 GHz. Power levels of a few nanowatts can be detected. Complete 500-MHz-wide spectra can be processed and acquired at the rate of 1 every 10 ..mu..s. The optical components, receiver, and data-acquisition interface will be discussed, and initial data taken on the CONSTANCE B experiment will be shown.

• Research Organization: Plasma Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 6489535
• Journal Information: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States), Vol. 58:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
OPTICAL SPECTROMETERS
DESIGN
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
TANDEM MIRRORS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT INTERFACES
TARA DEVICES
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
SPECTROMETERS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700102* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Diagnostics