Laser interferometric experiments for the TJ-II stellarator electron-density measurements

Abstract

Laser two-color heterodyne interferometry is a proven method to measure electron density in fusion plasmas. Though only used in tokamaks with high electron densities, the idea of also using two-color laser interferometers for stellarators and small machines to replace far-infrared laser interferometers is being proposed. This will lead to low-cost, reliable, and easy to operate diagnostics for electron-density measurements. In this article, we present the interferometric experiments we have used for calibration of a two-color laser heterodyne system for electron-density measurements in the TJ-II stellarator. These experiments have been based on the use of a novel interferometric scheme: the heterodyne/homodyne interferometer. Finally, we describe the interferometer we have installed in the TJ-II stellarator and present the first results on mechanical-vibration subtraction and electron-density measurements with a two-color laser interferometer in a stellarator (TJ-II, Madrid, Spain).