Remote operation of the GOLEM tokamak with hydrogen and helium plasmas

Abstract

The GOLEM tokamak was operated remotely via internet connection during the 6th International Workshop and Summer School on Plasma Physics. Performances of hydrogen and helium discharges are compared in this paper. It is found, with similar vacuum conditions that helium discharges are shorter but the breakdown of the working gas can be quite easily achieved at almost the same loop voltage. The plasma current in helium discharges is slightly lower than in the case of hydrogen. Turbulent fluctuations of the floating potential measured by means of anarray of Langmuir probes reveal a noticeably different character.The GOLEM tokamak was operated remotely via internet connection during the 6th International Workshop and Summer School on Plasma Physics. Performances of hydrogen and helium discharges are compared in this paper. It is found, with similar vacuum conditions that helium discharges are shorter but the breakdown of the working gas can be quite easily achieved at almost the same loop voltage. The plasma current in helium discharges is slightly lower than in the case of hydrogen. Turbulent fluctuations of the floating potential measured by means of anarray of Langmuir probes reveal a noticeably different character.