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A determination of the angular distributions, β, and relative partial photoionization cross sections, σ, of the valence satellite lines of atomic scandium in the region of the 3p → nd, ms excitations has been carried out using electron spectrometry in conjunction with monochromatized synchrotron radiation. This work is complementary to our earlier study of the partial cross sections of the Sc valence satellites but now includes angular distribution measurements of the most intense satellite lines. A correct theoretical description of the experimental satellite σ and β values presented herein should help in rectifying present discrepancies between theory and experiment for the 3d and 4s mainline σ and β values.

An overview of recent results from the MST programme on physics important for the advancement of the reversed field pinch (RFP) as well as for improved understanding of toroidal magnetic confinement more generally is reported. Evidence for the classical confinement of ions in the RFP is provided by analysis of impurity ions and energetic ions created by 1 MW neutral beam injection (NBI). The first appearance of energetic-particle-driven modes by NBI in a RFP plasma is described. MST plasmas robustly access the quasi-single-helicity state that has commonalities to the stellarator and 'snake' formation in tokamaks. In MST the dominant mode grows to 8% of the axisymmetric field strength, while the remaining modes are reduced. Predictive capability for tearing mode behaviour has been improved through nonlinear, 3D, resistive magnetohydrodynamic computation using the measured resistivity profile and Lundquist number, which reproduces the sawtooth cycle dynamics. Experimental evidence and computational analysis indicates two-fluid effects, e.g., Hall physics and gyro-viscosity, are needed to understand the coupling of parallel momentum transport and current profile relaxation. Large Reynolds and Maxwell stresses, plus separately measured kinetic stress, indicate an intricate momentum balance and a possible origin for MST's intrinsic plasma rotation. Gyrokinetic analysis indicates that micro-tearing modes can be unstable at high beta, with a critical gradient for the electron temperature that is larger than for tokamak plasmas by roughly the aspect ratio.

An overview of recent results from the MST reversed field pinch programme is presented. With neutral beam injection, bursty energetic particle (EP) modes are observed. The profiles of the magnetic and density fluctuations associated with these EP modes are measured using a far infrared interferometer-polarimeter. Equilibrium reconstructions of the quasi-single-helicity 3D helical state are provided by the V3FIT code that now incorporates several of MST's advanced diagnostics. The orientation of the helical structure is controlled using a new resonant magnetic perturbation technique. Gyrokinetic simulations based on experimental equilibria predict unstable trapped-electron modes (TEMs), and small-scale density fluctuations are detected in improved-confinement plasmas with TEM-like features. Upgraded pellet injection permits study of density and beta limits over MST's full range of operation, and an MST-record line-average density of 0.9 ×1020 m3 (n/nG = 1.4) has been obtained. Impurity ion temperature measurements reveal a charge-to-mass-ratio dependence in the rapid heating that occurs during a sawtooth crash. Runaway of NBI-born fast ions during the impulsive sawtooth event agrees with test-particle theory. Magnetic self-organization studies include measurements of the dynamo emf with an applied ac inductive electric field using oscillating field current drive.

The partial cross sections, σ, and the angular distribution parameters, β, of the photoelectrons originating from the 4f and 6s subshells of atomic thulium have been measured in the region of the 5p excitations (23 eV–38 eV). In qualitative agreement with a previous absorption study, our σ curves show two regions of strong resonance enhancement, one around a photon energy of 27 eV corresponding to 5p3/2 excitations and the other near 32 eV corresponding to 5p1/2 excitations. The β curves show considerable variation between the allowed extremes of −1.0 and 2.0 for many of the 4f photolines. In addition, the 6s photoline shows very marked deviations from β = 2.0 which is indicative of an open-shell atom. We also compare our experimental results with our calculated 4f partial cross sections. While there is excellent qualitative agreement between theory and experiment, quantitative details are not reproduced: (i) the 5p3/2 excitations are too narrow, (ii) while the 5p1/2 excitations have an intensity that is substantially less than what is observed experimentally.