Edge density characterization in the RFX-mod experiment using the ultrafast reflectometry technique

The traditional and widely used reflectometric schemes are not able to probe the edge density layers of the reversed field pinches (RFPs) due to the presence of a high level of density fluctuations. In order to overcome this limitation, an ultrafast microwave reflectometer has been developed and the first Ka-band has been successfully operational on the RFX-mod experiment [1] since mid-2009. The actual diagnostics configuration (frequency sweep 26.5–30.5 GHz in 1 µs) allows us to evaluate the radial distance of the relative cut-off density layer with a high time resolution. The first results are presented and discussed in this paper. In particular, a relation between edge density and local magnetic topology is proposed as well as a systematic study of the average behaviour over several global operative conditions of the machine. An outlook on the future diagnostic developments is also given.