LIF measurements for validation of collisional-radiative modelling of atomic helium in the edge of a fusion plasma

Abstract

Local values of the electron density and temperature in the edge of a fusion plasma can be derived with high space and time resolution by the use of line radiation of atomic helium beams. The accuracy of this method is mainly limited by the uncertainties in the collisional-radiative (CR) model which is needed in order to obtain both plasma parameters from the measured relative intensities of atomic helium lines. Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy on a thermal helium beam in the edge plasma of the tokamak TEXTOR in Jülich was applied to validate the CR model of helium. By use of a high-power, pulsed laser system (a dye laser pumped by an excimer laser) several laser excitation schemes starting from the n=2 levels have been tried. The fluorescence light was observed at the laser wavelength and elsewhere in the spectrum providing information on population densities of initial levels as well as on collisional population transfer between excited levels. This paper summarises the results of the measurements, showing principal limits and possible improvements of this experimental validation method of the CR model of the diagnostic helium beam. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.