# Prospects for a dominantly microwave-diagnosed magnetically confined fusion reactor

## TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of microwave diagnostics as a primary method for monitoring future magnetically confined fusion reactors, considering the limitations of current diagnostic techniques under harsher reactor conditions.

## Contribution

It proposes that microwave diagnostics could replace traditional methods in future reactors, addressing challenges posed by increased heat loads and radiation effects.

## Key findings

- Microwave diagnostics can operate effectively under high radiation conditions.
- Mode conversions and Collective Thomson Scattering are promising techniques.
- Microwave methods may overcome limitations of optical and beam-based diagnostics.

## Abstract

Compared to present experiments, tokamak and stellarator reactors will be subject to higher heat loads, sputtering, erosion and subsequent coating, tritium retention, higher neutron fluxes, and a number of radiation effects. Additionally, neutral beam penetration in tokamak reactors will only be limited to the plasma edge. As a result, several optical, beam-based and magnetic diagnostics of today's plasmas might not be applicable to tomorrow's reactors, but the present discussion suggests that reactors could largely rely on microwave diagnostics, including techniques based on mode conversions and Collective Thomson Scattering.