Soft x-ray PHA measurement of the long pulse discharge in HT-7 tokamak

By analyzing the soft x-ray energy spectrum measured by the soft x-ray pulse height analysis (PHA) system, the electron temperature (T-e) and the effective charge number (Z(eff)) of the ultra-long pulse discharge driven by lower hybrid wave (LHW) were obtained in the HT-7 tokamak. Moreover, the information of medium-Z impurities such as Ti, Cr, Fe, and Ni intrinsic to HT-7 tokamak can also be inspected. The accuracy of the electron temperature derived from the soft x-ray energy spectrum measurements is verified by comparing with the temperature measured by the Thomson scattering system for various plasmas and electron cyclotron emission diagnostic system for ohmic plasmas. The bulk electron temperature of about 1 key and Z(eff) approximate to 2 were achieved for long pulse plasma. The appreciable K alpha lines of Ti, Cr, Fe and Ni metallic impurities released from the antennas of radio frequency wave and/or the first wall and Ar injected into plasma can be observed, and they kept stable during the long duration discharges. As a result, the longest pulse discharge with relatively high temperature of T-e(0) similar to 1 key, and n(e)(0) similar to 0.5 x 10(19) m(-3) has been achieved with a duration of 400 s in the HT-7 experimental campaign in 2008. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.