X-ray diagnostics of tokamak plasmas

In this review, the authors venture into a new arena for work in atomic X-ray spectroscopy which can be dubbed tokamak X-ray spectroscopy diagnostics (TOXRASD). Not only is the experimental development exciting, but the measurements explore areas of atomic and plasma physics which have been inaccessible until just recently. Even though much of the present experimental effort is oriented towards obtaining a TOXRASD for fusion conditions, the new results touch upon some very basic atomic physics questions as well. Much effort has gone into the study of few electron systems, i.e., H-, He-, and Li-like ions with the purpose of utilizing the characteristic X-ray emission for diagnosing laboratory and astronomical plasmas or with the aim of developing the diagnostics, i.e., extending our understanding of the relationship between X-ray line emission and the plasma conditions under which the ions are formed and their ground states excited. However, the emission from highly charged heavy ions, such as neon-like molybdenum, has also attracted interest. Here the focus of the discussion is around results of the latest vintage from the TOXRASD project at the Alcator C tokamak at MIT. 38 references, 14 figures