13 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Design and performance of fast wave current drive systems in the ICRF
Experiments have begun on D3-D using the fast wave current drive (FWCD) phased antenna array. The array consists of four elements with slotted septa between them to reduce mutual coupling. The passive phasing/matching circuit developed for the launcher incorporates only five tuning elements and is driven by a single rf power supply. The system has successfully operated in the presence of plasma at power levels up to 1.25 MW, with {pi}/2 relative phasing, and approximately equal currents and voltages on all elements. Tuning algorithms that allow proper setting of all five elements within 1--2 shots have been developed. In addition, substantial modeling has been undertaken in support of the D3-D FWCD program. Loading calculations that take into account currents induced in the septa as well as other effects related to antenna geometry have been performed, and the results agree well with the observed data. A circuit model has been developed that, in combination with the loading calculations, allows the simulation of shot-to-shot matching for various tuning algorithms. 6 refs., 8 figs
Recommended from our members
Fast wave current drive experiment on the DIII-D tokamak
One method of radio-frequency heating which shows theoretical promise for both heating and current drive in tokamak plasmas is the direct absorption by electrons of the fast Alfven wave (FW). Electrons can directly absorb fast waves via electron Landau damping and transit-time magnetic pumping when the resonance condition {omega} {minus} {kappa}{sub {parallel}e}{upsilon}{sup {parallel}e} = O is satisfied. Since the FW accelerates electrons traveling the same toroidal direction as the wave, plasma current can be generated non-inductively by launching FW which propagate in one toroidal direction. Fast wave current drive (FWCD) is considered an attractive means of sustaining the plasma current in reactor-grade tokamaks due to teh potentially high current drive efficiency achievable and excellent penetration of the wave power to the high temperature plasma core. Ongoing experiments on the DIII-D tokamak are aimed at a demonstration of FWCD in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF). Using frequencies in the ICRF avoids the possibility of mode conversion between the fast and slow wave branches which characterized early tokamak FWCD experiments in the lower hybrid range of frequencies. Previously on DIII-D, efficient direct electron heating by FW was found using symmetric (non-current drive) antenna phasing. However, high FWCD efficiencies are not expected due to the relatively low electron temperatures (compared to a reactor) in DIII-D
Recommended from our members
Direct electron absorption of fast waves on the D3-D tokamak
Short communication