Observations of Infrared Radiation During Disruptions in Textor - Heat Pulses and Runaway Electrons

Disruptions are studied in TEXTOR using two infrared cameras. In the thermal quench phase, fast changing heat fluxes are observed, each delivering energies larger than 1 kJ/m(2) to the limiter. These bursts are correlated with an electron temperature pulse near the limiter and an increased release of impurities. Further bursts are observed in the current decay phase. For the first time a disruption generated beam of runaway electrons, accelerated in about 10 ms to about 20 MeV, is observed inside the plasma by the infrared synchrotron radiation. This beam carries a current of about 20 kA and is lost within approximately 100 mu s. The heat deposition on the limiter due to the runaways is comparable to the power flux by the heat bursts.