Measurements of flows in the DIII-D divertor by Mach probes

First measurements of the Mach number of the background plasma in the DIII-D divertor are presented in conjunction with temperature T-e and density n(e) using a fast scanning probe array. To validate the probe measurements, we compared our T-e, n(e) and J(sat) data to Thomson scattering data and found good overall agreement in attached discharges and some discrepancy for T-e and n(e) in detached discharges. The discrepancy is mostly due to the effect of large fluctuations present during detached plasmas on the probe characteristic; the particle flux is accurately measured in every case. A composite 2-D map of measured flows is presented for an ELMing H-mode discharge and we focus on some of the details. We have also documented the temperature, density and Mach number in the private flux region of the divertor and the vicinity of the X-point, which are important transition regions that have been little studied or modeled. Background parallel plasma flows and electric fields in the divertor region show a complex structure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.