In-situ analysis of the first wall by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in the TEXTOR tokamak: Dependence on the magnetic field strength

Abstract

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is considered as a promising method for in-situ diagnostic of the co-deposition and fuel retention during and in between plasma discharges in fusion devices. LIBS has been investigated intensively under laboratory conditions, while the application of LIBS in fusion devices is still in early stages. Moreover, the LIB processes are influenced by additional conditions in fusion devices, particularly the magnetic field. The experiments in TEXTOR show a significant enhancement in the spectral line emission and a deeper penetration of the laser-produced plasma into the edge plasma in the presence of magnetic field. These effects can be attributed to an increased confinement of the plasma by the magnetic field. The interference of magnetic field may compromise the quantitative interpretation of LIB spectra. Therefore, quantitative analysis of ITER-like co-deposits was done in laboratory without magnetic field as well as in TEXTOR with a magnetic field of Bt∼2.25T.