Observation of non-thermal electrons outside the SOL in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator

Hot spots and bright patterns on plasma-facing components (PFC) in visible light are observed in electron cyclotron resonance heated (ECRH) plasmas at low densities in the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X. The events are often located far outside of any convective plasma loads and led in some cases to damages of diagnostic com-ponents, where the interaction zones qualitatively agree with fast particle loss simulations. Reciprocating electric probes indicate that this phenomenon is related to a non-thermal electron population that can have a beam like character, being directed in one parallel direction. Further, the electrons can be trapped on rational flux surfaces and be used to map magnetic islands.