Electron density profile measurement with a heavy ion beam probe

The feasibility of electron density profile measurements using a heavy ion beam probe in high-temperature plasmas has been demonstrated earlier [J. Schwelberger et al., Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 36, 2292 (1991); Yu. N. Dnestrovskij et al., Sov. J. Plasma Phys. 12, 130 (1986)]. Two algorithms were developed to obtain density profiles from the heavy ion beam probe on the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF). A comparison of the algorithms is presented with a detailed study of the errors involved in the measurements. The errors can be due to uncertainties in cross sections, electron temperature, the line average density measurement, and the ion trajectory calculations. The heavy ion beam probe density profile measurement is not very susceptible to errors as long as the electron temperature stays above 30 eV. If the electron temperature is below this value, a small uncertainty in the temperature introduces a large error in the density. Also, important for a good density profile measurement is the calculation of the correct ion trajectories. Examples of density profiles are shown for ECH plasmas on ATF together with a detailed error analysis. The heavy ion beam probe results are in good agreement with multichannel far-infrared laser interferometry and Thomson scattering results.