Main Physical Factors Limiting the Accuracy of Polarimetric Measurements in Tokamak Plasma

The paper reviews and discusses the main factors, limiting the accuracy of polarimetric measurements in tokamak plasma. Theoretical methods, describing evolution of polarimetry state in tokamak plasma, are demonstrated not to contribute noticeably to inaccuracy at sufficiently short beam wavelengths. Based on the literature data as well as on our preliminary estimates it is possible to conclude that the following factors dominate: i) calibration procedure; ii) refraction in the inhomogeneous plasma; iii) influence of weak relativistic effects on plasma dielectric permittivity. The contribution of these factors to is within the range of several per cent. Other causes of measurement inaccuracies (absorption in plasma, diffraction of sounding beam, ray torsion, nonstationary processes in plasma) seem to be less significant.