Advanced Thomson scattering system for high-flux linear plasma generator

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4768527· OSTI ID:22094032

Meiden, H. J. van der; Lof, A. R.; Berg, M. A. van den; Brons, S.; Koelman, P. M. J.; Koppers, W. R.; Kruijt, O. G.; Oyevaar, T.; Prins, P. R.; Rapp, J.; Scholten, J.; Smeets, P. H. M.; Star, G. van der; Zeijlmans van Emmichoven, P. A. ^[1]; Donne, A. J. H.; Schram, D. C. ^[1]; Naumenko, N. N. ^[2]; Tugarinov, S. N. ^[3]

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1. FOM Institute DIFFER, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research, Association EURATOM-FOM, Trilateral Euregio Cluster, P.O. Box 1207, 3430 BE Nieuwegein (Netherlands)
2. IPh NASB, Minsk (Belarus)
3. SRC TRINITI, Troitsk, Moscow Reg. (Russian Federation)

An advanced Thomson scattering system has been built for a linear plasma generator for plasma surface interaction studies. The Thomson scattering system is based on a Nd:YAG laser operating at the second harmonic and a detection branch featuring a high etendue (f /3) transmission grating spectrometer equipped with an intensified charged coupled device camera. The system is able to measure electron density (n{sub e}) and temperature (T{sub e}) profiles close to the output of the plasma source and, at a distance of 1.25 m, just in front of a target. The detection system enables to measure 50 spatial channels of about 2 mm each, along a laser chord of 95 mm. By summing a total of 30 laser pulses (0.6 J, 10 Hz), an observational error of 3% in n{sub e} and 6% in T{sub e} (at n{sub e}= 9.4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 18} m{sup -3}) can be obtained. Single pulse Thomson scattering measurements can be performed with the same accuracy for n{sub e} > 2.8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 20} m{sup -3}. The minimum measurable density and temperature are n{sub e} < 1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 17} m{sup -3} and T{sub e} < 0.07 eV, respectively. In addition, using the Rayleigh peak, superimposed on the Thomson scattered spectrum, the neutral density (n{sub 0}) of the plasma can be measured with an accuracy of 25% (at n{sub 0}= 1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 20} m{sup -3}). In this report, the performance of the Thomson scattering system will be shown along with unprecedented accurate Thomson-Rayleigh scattering measurements on a low-temperature argon plasma expansion into a low-pressure background.

• OSTI ID: 22094032
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 83, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ARGON
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
EQUIPMENT
ION TEMPERATURE
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA PRESSURE
RAYLEIGH SCATTERING
SENSORS
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THOMSON SCATTERING
WALL EFFECTS