Two-dimensional modeling of plasma diagnostic reflectometry

Microwave reflectometry has become an important diagnostic in the measurement of both plasma density profiles and density fluctuation spatial correlations. close-quote Ultra-short-pulse reflectometry close-quote is a recent innovation that has important technical advantages: a compact broadband source and the ability to track the temporal evolution of density profiles and fluctuations. We have extended our earlier numerical modeling of reflectometry to two-dimensional full-wave computations of both ordinary and extraordinary mode pulsed reflectometry in a cold plasma. We have demonstrated the robustness of ultra-short-pulse, β-mode density-profile reconstructions in the presence of either radial or poloidal stationary density perturbations of significant amplitude. We are also modeling the use of X-mode reflectometry for density-fluctuation correlation measurements in two dimensions. Our reflectometry computations have proved to be very flexible and easy to use, and have become an important tool for concept evaluation in support of the UC Davis Plasma Diagnostics Group's reflectometry experiments