Spatial and Wavenumber Resolution of Doppler Reflectometry

Evgeniy Gusakov (1) , Alexander Surkov (1)

1 HTPPL - High Temperature Plasma Physics Laboratory

Doppler reflectometry spatial and wavenumber resolution is analyzed within the framework of the linear Born approximation in slab plasma model. Explicit expression for its signal backscattering spectrum is obtained in terms of wavenumber and frequency spectra of turbulence which is assumed to be radially statistically inhomogeneous. Scattering efficiency for both back and forward scattering (in radial direction) is introduced and shown to be inverse proportional to the square of radial wavenumber of the probing wave at the fluctuation location thus making the spatial resolution of diagnostics sensitive to density profile. It is shown that in case of forward scattering additional localization can be provided by the antenna diagram. It is demonstrated that in case of backscattering the spatial resolution can be better if the turbulence spectrum at high radial wavenumbers is suppressed. The improvement of Doppler reflectometry data localization by probing beam focusing onto the cut-off is proposed and described. The possibility of Doppler reflectometry data interpretation based on the obtained expressions is shown.

Mots clés: plasma; turbulence; microwave diagnostics; reflectometry; theory

Domaines: Physique des plasmas [physics.plasm-ph]

Evgeniy Gusakov, Alexander Surkov. Spatial and Wavenumber Resolution of Doppler Reflectometry. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2004, 46, pp.1143-1162. ⟨10.1088/0741-3335/46/7/012⟩. ⟨hal-00003084⟩