Abstract

Abstract A Fast-Ion Loss Detector (FILD) was installed for the first time at the MAST-U spherical tokamak during its upgrade in 2021. A new CMOS camera was installed in the MAST-U FILD acquisition system to provide high spatial resolution (1.1 MPx) with an acquisition frequency of up to 3.5 kHz. This camera has enabled the systematic analysis of the velocity-space of the fast-ion losses measured in MAST-U presented in this manuscript. The main parameters that determine the FILD measurement have been analysed to maximise the signal in the detector: The orbit-following code ASCOT predicts an inverse relation between the FILD signal and the probe's relative distance to the separatrix. This prediction has been validated experimentally, enabling the measurement of fast-ion losses in the flat-top phase of the discharge; furthermore, ASCOT simulations show a big impact of the edge safety factor (q95) on the toroidal deposition of the first-orbit losses, indicating that the signal in the MAST-U FILD can be maximised by running scenarios with q95<6. This prediction was validated experimentally by a scan in the toroidal magnetic field. The experimental resolution of the MAST-U FILD has been evaluated for a typical MAST-U scenario with up to 750 kA plasma current. The results show that the diagnostic resolution is in the order of 0.5 to 1 degree in pitch angle, and of 1 to 3 cm in gyroradius in current scenarios. A systematic analysis of the velocity-space of the losses shows that the measured gyroradii of the prompt-losses match those of the NBI injection energies within the resolution of the diagnostic. The experimentally measured pitch angles have been compared with ASCOT simulations, and it has been found that the agreement is better for scenarios heated with the on-axis beam, since this beam enables measurements of the magnetic field pitch angle. This analysis has been applied to a discharge where type-III ELM-induced fast-ion losses were measured, showing that the ELMs result in an increase in the FILD signal, and that the losses are coming from passing orbits.