Monitoring Impurities and Hydrogen Isotopes using Survey Spectroscopy in C-2W

In TAE Technologies’ current experimental device C-2W (also known as “Norman”), steady-state beam-driven field reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas are produced and monitored with an extensive suite of plasma diagnostics [1]. In order to investigate impurity and hydrogen isotope composition in C-2W, an array of survey spectrometers was deployed to measure the spectral distribution of lines from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared in different regions of the device on a shot-to-shot basis. Spectral analysis using sophisticated line identification methods offers a comprehensive picture of the plasma composition as a function of machine configuration and operating conditions. The measured spectra can provide a significant amount of useful information, including insight into wall conditions following machine vents, electrode arcing events, metal sputtering by fast particles, and leak detection. In addition, some systems can resolve hydrogen and deuterium Balmer-alpha lines for studies of particle confinement, gas fueling, and wall recycling. In this poster, we will summarize C-2W’s survey spectroscopy capabilities and present data exploring impurity trends, hydrogen isotope confinement, and various other phenomena in C-2W.

1. H. Gota et al., Nucl. Fusion 61,106039 (2021)