TOKAMAK PHYSICS EXPERIMENT DIAGNOSTIC PLANS (INVITED)

A superconducting Tokamak Physics Experiment (TPX) whose mission is to develop the scientific basis for a compact and continuously operating tokamak fusion reactor is being designed by an integrated U.S. national team. Key physics features such as strong shaping, a double-null poloidal divertor, full noninductive current drive, and current profile control capability will be used to explore improvements in energy confinement and beta limit scaling in high-aspect-ratio plasmas with a high bootstrap current fraction. Steady-state operation of TPX permits these studies to be extended to time scales significantly exceeding the global current-relaxation time and the plasma-wall equilibrium time. The diagnostic requirements are determined by the TPX mission and supporting objectives, such as optimization of plasma performance through active control of the current profile and of the plasma-wall interactions. Diagnostic measurements are needed to characterize the plasma behavior over the full range of conventional tokamak plasma parameters with appropriate spatial and temporal resolution as well as for control and monitoring of aspects of the machine operation such as the plasma position and shape, plasma current, vacuum vessel currents, electron density and temperature, and the divertor and limiter temperatures. In addition, several diagnostic capabilities that are especially critical for the TPX project will be discussed. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.