Calculations of Thomson scattering functions for alpha particle diagnostics in JET plasmas

Scattering functions are calculated for conditions anticipated for D-T plasmas in JET. It is concluded that scattering at millimetre wavelengths may be capable of providing useful information about the alpha particle velocity distribution function, but scattering of CO2 laser radiation at a wavelength of 10.6 μm will not. The alpha distribution function is most easily determined when the geometry is such as to minimize the effect of the plasma magnetic field.