SPECTROSCOPIC DETERMINATION OF THE ELECTRON DENSITY AND ELECTRON TEMPERATURE IN THE BYU TOPOLOTRON: OPERATION IN A TOKAMAK-LIKE CONFIGURATION

The time evolutions of several spectral lines of naturally occurring impurity atoms (carbon and oxygen) have been recorded for the plasma in the BYU Topolotron. The electron density has been measured using a laser interferometer. The measured time-dependence of the electron density has been used to infer the evolution of the electron temperature by varying the temperature versus time curve until the theoretical time development of the spectral line intensities matched those which had been experimentally determined. The theory used in determining the theoretical intensities is reviewed with emphasis on application to the Topolotron plasma. The basis of the electron density measurements is also reviewed. Data are presented which were taken in the C-mode of operation in which a tokamak-like configuration is achieved.