Towards a new image processing system at Wendelstein 7-X: From spatial calibration to characterization of thermal events

Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) is the most advanced fusion experiment in the stellarator line and is aimed at proving that the stellarator concept is suitable for a fusion reactor. One of the most important issues for fusion reactors is the monitoring of plasma facing components when exposed to very high heat loads, through the use of visible and infrared (IR) cameras. In this paper, a new image processing system for the analysis of the strike lines on the inboard limiters from the first W7-X experimental campaign is presented. This system builds a model of the IR cameras through the use of spatial calibration techniques, helping to characterize the strike lines by using the information given by real spatial coordinates of each pixel. The characterization of the strike lines is made in terms of position, size, and shape, after projecting the camera image in a 2D grid which tries to preserve the curvilinear surface distances between points. The description of the strike-line shape is made by means of the Fourier Descriptors

Forward modeling of collective Thomson scattering for Wendelstein 7-X plasmas: Electrostatic approximation

In this paper, we present a method for numerical computation of collective Thomson scattering (CTS). We developed a forward model, eCTS, in the electrostatic approximation and benchmarked it against a full electromagnetic model. Differences between the electrostatic and the electromagnetic models are discussed. The sensitivity of the results to the ion temperature and the plasma composition is demonstrated. We integrated the model into the Bayesian data analysis framework Minerva and used it for the analysis of noisy synthetic data sets produced by a full electromagnetic model. It is shown that eCTS can be used for the inference of the bulk ion temperature. The model has been used to infer the bulk ion temperature from the first CTS measurements on Wendelstein 7-X

Experimental confirmation of efficient island divertor operation and successful neoclassical transport optimization in Wendelstein 7-X

We present recent highlights from the most recent operation phases of Wendelstein 7-X, the most advanced stellarator in the world. Stable detachment with good particle exhaust, low impurity content, and energy confinement times exceeding 100 ms, have been maintained for tens of seconds. Pellet fueling allows for plasma phases with reduced ion-temperature-gradient turbulence, and during such phases, the overall confinement is so good (energy confinement times often exceeding 200 ms) that the attained density and temperature profiles would not have been possible in less optimized devices, since they would have had neoclassical transport losses exceeding the heating applied in W7-X. This provides proof that the reduction of neoclassical transport through magnetic field optimization is successful. W7-X plasmas generally show good impurity screening and high plasma purity, but there is evidence of longer impurity confinement times during turbulence-suppressed phases.EC/H2020/633053/EU/Implementation of activities described in the Roadmap to Fusion during Horizon 2020 through a Joint programme of the members of the EUROfusion consortium/ EUROfusio

Physics design, construction and commissioning of the ICRH system for the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X

The ICRH antenna for the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) aims at delivering RF power levels up to about 1.5 MW in the frequency range 25-38 MHz with pulse lengths up to 10 s. The antenna was constructed and tested in the institute IEK-4 of the Research Centre Julich, and subsequently installed at W7-X. The paper will review the physics design, the construction and installation in W7-X, and the commissioning plans for the ICRH system in the coming months

Observations of the effects of magnetic topology on the SOL characteristics of an electromagnetic coherent mode in the first experimental campaign of W7-X

Turbulence is considered to play an important role in the edge cross field heat and particle transport in fusion devices. Scrape-off layer (SOL) turbulence characteristics were measured by the combined probe mounted on the multi-purpose manipulator during the first experimental campaign of W7-X. An electromagnetic coherent mode (EMCM) at 7 kHz has been observed by multiple diagnostics in both the plasma core and the SOL and exhibits a strong dependence of the magnetic topology. As demonstrated by the measurements of the combined probe, the EMCM starts to appear at a radius of R  =  6.15 m along the path of probe measurement and this location is shifted inwards in higher iota configurations. It propagates along the direction of electron diamagnetic drift in the far SOL with a poloidal velocity about 0.6 km s−1 while it turns to the opposite direction gradually in the near SOL in the laboratory frame, but keeps a velocity of about 0.6–0.7 km s−1 along the direction of electron diamagnetic drift in the plasma frame. This mode can be induced by raising the ECRH heating power in similar discharge conditions, which is probably linked to the gradient of electron temperature and pressure. The EMCM is enhanced significantly in the edge magnetic island with long connection length where the EMCM can grow up due to the long particle confinement time

Diagnostic set-up and modelling for investigation of synergy between 3D edge physics and plasma-wall interactions on Wendelstein 7-X

A group of edge diagnostics and modelling has been developed for investigation of synergy between 3D edge physics and plasma-wall interactions on Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X). Two endoscopes have been designed for visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy and tomography of the plasma edge, along with infrared thermography of the divertor tiles. 2D profiles of impurities (e.g. helium, carbon) will be measured by two endoscopes viewing the island divertor region in the plasma edge with a spatial resolution of  <2 mm. A multipurpose manipulator, which is used as the carrier either of the probe head for measuring the plasma edge profiles or of samples for plasma exposure studies, was installed at the outside mid-plane on W7-X in 2015. A poloidal correlation reflectometer has also been installed at W7-X. The system consists of an antenna array observing the propagation of turbulent phenomena in the mid-plane. The EMC3-EIRENE code package has been adapted for plasma edge transport in helium plasma at W7-X using a hybrid fluid–kinetic approach by enabling EMC3 to treat non-hydrogen isotopes and extending the usage of EIRENE features within EMC3-EIRENE