Design upgrades to the DIII-D gamma ray imager

POSTER

Abstract

Generation of runaway electrons (RE) in tokamak disruptions can cause damage of plasma facing components. RE studies are necessary in order to provide a reliable mechanism of RE mitigation. For that task a gamma ray imager (GRI) has been developed for DIII-D. It measures the bremsstrahlung emission by RE providing information on RE energy spectrum and RE distribution across a poloidal cross-section. The GRI consists of a lead pinhole camera illuminating a 2D array of 30 BGO detectors placed in the DIII-D mid-plane. First results showed the successful measurements of RE energy spectra in the range 1 - 60 MeV with time resolution 100 $\mu$s. They have been obtained in the low-flux quiescent RE regime via pulse-high analysis. The measurements in the high gamma flux post-disruption RE regime showed strong signal saturation. Here we present GRI design upgrades towards signal attenuation and better detector shielding including Monte-Carlo Neutral Particle modeling of GRI irradiation, as well as improved calibration techniques and options to improve electronic noise rejection.

Authors

  • A. Lvovskiy

    ORAU

  • C. Cooper

    ORAU, GA

  • N. Eidietis

    General Atomics, GA

  • D. Pace

    General Atomics, GA

  • C. Paz-Soldan

    GA, General Atomics, ORNL, General Atomics (GA)