Status of the JET Faraday cup lost alpha particle diagnostic KA-2

We review the operational status and present a few recent results from the JET lost alpha particle diagnostic KA2. We summarize the results of our study of the correlation between KA2 signals and JET magnetic fields and the correlation between KA2 signals and the scintillator-based lost alpha probe KA3. In addition we quantify the relative insensitivity of the diagnostic to intense neutron and gamma ray background radiation fields and our observations of the electro-mechanical noise in the diagnostics signals. We present recent observations carried out during the 2011 JET campaign following the installation of the beryllium ITER-like wall. These observations include lost energetic deuterons during both ion-cyclotron and neutral beam heated plasmas; in particular we have measured relatively intense fluxes of energetic particles during sawtooth plasmas. (paper)