First Ion Temperature Measurements in the MAST-U Divertor via Retarding Field Energy Analyzer

TL;DR

This paper reports the first ion temperature measurements in the MAST-U divertor using a Retarding Field Energy Analyzer, revealing detailed plasma behavior, temperature ratios, and ELM dynamics under various operational conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of RFEA for ion temperature profiling in MAST-U divertor, providing new insights into plasma parameters during different operational scenarios.

Findings

Ion temperatures peak at ~17 eV in steady state.

T_i/T_e ratio ranges from 1 to 2.2.

ELM events cause T_i peaks up to 16 eV.

Abstract

This study presents the first ion temperature (\(T_i\)) measurements from the MAST-U divertor using a Retarding Field Energy Analyzer (RFEA). Embedded within the flat tile of the closed divertor chamber, the RFEA captures \(T_i\) profiles across various plasma scenarios, including transitions to the Super-X configuration. Measurements were conducted under steady-state and transient plasma conditions characterized by a plasma current (\(I_p\)) of 750 kA, electron density (\(n_e\)) between \(2.2 \times 10^{19}\) and \(4.45 \times 10^{19}\,\text{m}^{-3}\), and Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) power ranging from 3.0 MW to 3.2 MW. The ion temperatures, peaking at approximately 17 eV in steady state, were compared with electron temperatures (\(T_e\)) obtained from Langmuir probes (LP) at identical radial positions. The study also examined ion saturation current density (\(J_{\text{sat}}\)) signals to using methodologies similar to previous MAST experiments. Preliminary findings reveal a \(T_i/T_e\) ratio ranging from 1 to 2.2. Additionally, high temporal resolution measurements (100 $\mu s$) captured the dynamics of Edge Localized Modes (ELMs), showing \(T_i\) peaks at 16.03 +- 1.84 eV during ELM events, nearly three times higher than inter-ELM temperatures.