External wave launcher study. Final technical report
The overall purpose of this study is to explore the applicability of dielectric filled waveguide launchers to couple ion cyclotron resonant frequency (ICRF) power to magnetically confined plasma. The major advantage of dielectric filled launchers is that the geometrical dimensions of a waveguide launcher required to accommodate an electromagnetic wave of any given frequency can be reduced by the square root of the relative permittivity of the dielectric compared to air or vacuum waveguide dimensions. However, removal of the intense heat load deposited by 14 MeV neutrons in a solid dielectric filled waveguide heating system in close proximity to a fusion reactor presents several major problems: Heat is distributed throughout the volume of solid dielectric by energetic neutrons, which necessitates that a substantial fraction of the dielectric filled waveguide must be occupied by channels containing liquid coolant to remove the heat. The uniformity of the internal dielectric media of the waveguide is disrupted, and electromagnetic waves in the guide will be reflected and scattered at the discontinuities. It is highly questionable that a waveguide or waveguide launcher constructed in this manner will be an efficient means of transmitting ICRF power. This circumstance leads to employing liquid dielectrics which could satisfy both electromagnetic and coolant requirements of ICRF auxiliary launching systems simultaneously. Additionally, liquid dielectrics facilitate the motion of tuning structures through the media and preserve its dielectric uniformity in contrast to the tuning restrictions imposed by solid dielectrics in this regard.
- Research Organization:
- JAYCOR, Torrance, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-84ER52109
- OSTI ID:
- 7056029
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/52109-T3; ON: DE87000636
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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