Magnetic perturbation diagnostics in the high-temperature lithiated environment of LTX-β

• Published in: Review of scientific instruments Vol. 89; no. 10; pp. 10J104 - 14
• Main Authors: Hughes, P. E., Majeski, R., Kaita, R., Kozub, T., Hansen, C., Boyle, D. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Institute of Physics 01.10.2018
• Subjects: Coils; Diagnostic systems; Eddy currents; Field coils; Liquid lithium; Magnetohydrodynamics; Neutral beams; Perturbation; Plasmas (physics); Protective coatings; Scientific apparatus & instruments; Sensor arrays; Shell stability; Tokamak devices
• ISSN: 0034-6748; 1089-7623; 1089-7623
• DOI: 10.1063/1.5035359

Magnetic perturbation measurements will be invaluable for characterizing Lithium Tokamak Experiment Beta (LTX-β) plasmas due to the time-evolving 3D nature of the magnetic fields generated by eddy currents in the vessel and copper shell segments, as well as enhanced MHD instability drive due to newly introduced neutral beam heating. The LTX-β upgrade includes two new arrays of Mirnov coils: a shell eddy sensor array of two-axis coils distributed over the back surface of one shell segment and a toroidal array of poloidal field coils at the low-field side midplane gap. Evaporative lithium wall-coating and the high temperatures required for liquid lithium wall operation both complicate the implementation of in-vessel diagnostics. While the shell array is protected from lithium exposure, the shell segment to which it is mounted will at times exceed 300 °C. The toroidal array, however, will experience direct line-of-sight exposure to the lithium evaporator as well as close proximity to the hot shell and may also be subject to poorly confined beam-driven fast ions. We describe how the two new Mirnov coil arrays meet these environmental challenges and enhance the LTX-β diagnostic suite.