PLASMA EDGE DIAGNOSTICS BY ATOMIC-BEAM SUPPORTED EMISSION-SPECTROSCOPY - STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES

Atomic beam supported emission spectroscopy is well suited to satisfy the needs of edge diagnostics; in particular, it offers high space- an d time resolution and causes almost no perturbation of the plasma. Mak ing use of the species Li, He and H, atomic beams have been developed, in different velocity ranges, by the help of which the most important plasma parameters can be measured. The principles for the measurement of the electron density and temperature profiles, of the ion temperat ure profile and of the radial profiles of highly ionized impurities ar e explained and the atom sources used at TEXTOR are described. Recent results obtained on TEXTOR for various plasma parameters are presented and critically discussed. We are convinced that plasma turbulence and the two-dimensional character of the plasma edge will be important ch allenges for the future. Atomic beams may offer solutions only if suff icient efforts are invested into their technical development.