Operation of a real-time Thomson scattering evaluation system in the W7-X stellarator*

Recent experiments on W7-X have stressed the importance that plasma profile shaping has on performance, with high plasma confinement typically associated with centrally-peaked density distributions. This presentation details the development of a real-time Thomson scattering evaluation system designed to serve as input for plasma profile control schemes. Forward modeling of signal strengths inferred from measurements of Thomson scattered spectra have been shown to yield inferences of T_e and n_e on milisecond timescales. We compare different adaptations of the base processing routines and their effect on both software performance and inferred plasma parameters. This system will be used in the upcoming experimental campaigns at W7-X with a target evaluation rate of 100 Hz, informed by the experiment’s laser repetition rate. By inferring n_e and T_e in real-time, this diagnostic can serve as input to future profile control schemes to maintain high confinement throughout plasma operations