First step toward a synthetic diagnostic for magnetic fluctuation measurements using cross-polarization scattering on DIII-D.

ABSTRACT

Cross-polarization scattering (CPS) provides localized magnetic fluctuation ( B ̃ ) measurements in fusion plasmas based on the process where B ̃ scatters electromagnetic radiation into the orthogonal polarization. The CPS system on DIII-D utilizes the probe beam of a Doppler backscattering (DBS) diagnostic combined with a cross-view CPS receiver system, which allows simultaneous density and B ̃ measurements with good spatial and wavenumber coverage. The interpretation of the signals is challenging due to the complex plasma propagation of the DBS probe beam and CPS receive beams. A synthetic diagnostic for CPS is therefore essential to interpret data and perform detailed validation tests of non-linear turbulence simulations. This work reports a first step toward a synthetic diagnostic for CPS utilizing GENRAY, a 3-D ray tracing code, to simulate the propagation of the probe and scattered rays. The local B ̃ wavenumber is calculated from the local O- and X-mode wavenumbers using the wave vector matching scattering condition. The CPS wavenumber values and spatial locations are determined by a complex consideration that includes the local density and B ̃ level, receive antenna pattern and orientation, scattering volume, wavenumber values detected at the various scattering centers, and alignment of the magnetic wave vector with the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. The issue of a spurious CPS signal due to polarization mismatches for launch and receive is also discussed. It is suggested that simultaneous O- and X-mode DBS measurements should be utilized for better understanding of the CPS signal contamination when the cutoff locations for both polarizations are close.