A survey of the current experimental database for lower hybrid current-drive and heating

The proposed ITER design may rely heavily on Lower Hybrid waves to provide heating, current drive, MHD stabilization through current profile modification and transformer recharging. This paper presents a detailed survey of recent LH experimental results from PLT, Alcator C, ASDEX, Petula-B, FT and JT-60. Current drive and heating efficiencies are given, as well as regimes where sawteeth and m = 1 and 2 oscillations are stabilized. In addition, in ASDEX and JT-60, LH waves in combination with neutral beams, (a possible ITER scenario) experiments are examined. Finally, the current drive efficiency for ITER is obtained by extrapolating from the LHCD database. Assuming 12 MW of LH power, approximately 4.5 to 5.6 MA of current could be driven in ITER. However, the high density (/ovr /n///sub e/ = 8 /times/ 10/sup 19/ m/sup /minus/3/) and high temperature (/ovr/T///sub e/ = 21 keV) will preclude wave penetration to the center. Assuming a narrow N/sub /parallel// spectrum (1.2 /approx lt/ N/sub /parallel// /approx lt/ 2) the LH waves should be absorbed within the outer half of the plasma. 43 refs., 18 figs., 10 tabs