Plasma Diagnostics

This summer internship project was conducted at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, India, providing my first exposure to experimental physics research and optical spectroscopy techniques.

Research Context

Plasma edge diagnostics are critical for understanding plasma-wall interactions and impurity transport in fusion devices. Raman scattering and optical emission spectroscopy serve as non-invasive diagnostic tools for measuring plasma parameters such as temperature, density, and composition.

Project Objectives

The internship focused on calibrating a polychromator system for Thomson scattering measurements and exploring Raman scattering techniques for plasma diagnostics applications. The goal was to establish reliable spectral calibration procedures for accurate plasma parameter extraction.

Technical Work

• Polychromator Calibration: Wavelength calibration using standard spectral lamps and monochromatic laser sources
• Raman Spectroscopy Setup: Alignment and optimization of Raman scattering collection optics
• Data Analysis: Processing spectral data to extract calibration curves and verify measurement accuracy
• Instrument Characterization: Determining spectral resolution, sensitivity, and noise characteristics

Learning Outcomes

This internship provided hands-on experience with advanced optical diagnostic techniques and introduced me to the challenges of spectroscopic measurements in plasma physics environments. Working with high-precision instrumentation and data analysis workflows established foundational skills for my subsequent research in materials characterization.

Skills Demonstrated

Optical alignment, spectroscopic calibration, Raman spectroscopy, polychromator operation, data acquisition and analysis, experimental troubleshooting