Diagnostic Systems on Alcator C-Mod

TLDR

The Alcator C‑Mod’s compact design and cryostat enclosure make access difficult, and its overlapping diagnostic focus areas support burning‑plasma and advanced‑tokamak research. The paper provides an overview of the diagnostics installed on Alcator C‑Mod, which are used to study transport, plasma boundary, waves, and macrostability. The study employs advanced diagnostics such as electron cyclotron emission, phase‑contrast imaging, gas‑puff imaging, probe measurements, and active magnetohydrodynamic antennas to investigate C‑Mod plasmas. About 25 diagnostic systems are currently operated on C‑Mod.

Abstract

An overview of the diagnostics installed on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak is presented. Approximately 25 diagnostic systems are being operated on C-Mod. The compact design of the machine and the cryostat enclosing the vacuum vessel and magnetic field coils make access challenging. Diagnostics are used to study four focus areas: transport, plasma boundary, waves, and macrostability. There is significant overlap between these topics, and they all contribute toward the burning plasma and advanced tokamak thrusts. Several advanced and novel diagnostics contribute to the investigation of C-Mod plasmas, e.g., electron cyclotron emission, phase-contrast imaging, gas puff imaging, probe measurements, and active magnetohydrodynamic antennas.