Precision of ion temperature measurements in a Tokamak plasma using collective Thomson scattering: a numerical study

A numerical simulation has been performed to investigate the precision of a T sub(i) measurement of a Tokamak plasma, via collective Thomson scattering at 385 mu m. The study is based on a parameter and data set referring to an experiment that has been carried out at the TCA Tokamak, using a pulsed D sub(2)O laser and a heterodyne receiver system. We investigate the influence of uncertainties in various plasma parameters required for the T sub(i) evaluation from a scattered spectrum. Typical relative errors of plus or minus 25% have already been obtained, but careful optimization of the system, taking into account the results of this study, and further technical improvements should allow a reduction of this limit to about plus or minus 10% for the plasma conditions considered.