Finite electron temperature effects on interferometric and polarimetric measurements in fusion plasmas

Abstract

Finite electron temperature effects on interferometry and polarimetry measurements for burning plasma are considered with particular focus on analytically understanding the role of weakly relativistic effects. Development of a new iterative technique, in the limit when the probing wave frequency is much higher than the electron cyclotron frequency, yields the dispersion relation to lowest (linear) order in Te∕mec2⪡1. Perturbative treatment of the wave phase and polarization is presented in a form suitable for interpretation of experimental data. Previous analysis of the problem included nonrelativistic calculations only. Herein, it is shown that relativistic effects are equally important. Theoretical results are in agreement with computations and can be used for benchmarking of ray tracing codes. The implication of finite temperature effects on future burning plasma interferometer diagnostics is discussed.