Operation of flush-mounted probes in the TdeV tokamak

An array of 16 flush-mounted probes (FMPs) has been installed in the outboard divertor plate of TdeV, giving a radial resolution of 3.3 mm at the plasma strike point. Extensive use during an aggressive, 14-month experimental campaign has yielded a massive data base, as well as a better understanding of the level of precision required in the fabrication of FMPs. We will report on the technical performance of the FMP array, and present examples of measurements which illustrate the usefulness and reliability of this diagnostic. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.