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Title: An electron Bernstein wave heating scheme for the Proto-MPEX linear device

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5033334· OSTI ID:1833986

Linear plasma devices, such as the Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX), are an economic method to study plasma-material interactions under high heat and particle fluxes. The Proto-MPEX device at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a high-density helicon plasma generator with additional resonant electron heating to study plasma-material interactions in ITER-like conditions. Here, we present modeling results of an electron Bernstein wave (EBW) heating scheme for this device using a microwave-based system. A 28 GHz injection system is available to provide power levels up to 100 kW injected into low electron temperature and high electron density plasmas. A modified version of the GENRAY ray-tracing code, GENRAY-C, has been used to determine the EBW and electron cyclotron heating wave accessibility for these overdense plasmas. Modeling has shown that greater than 80% of mode conversion from the ordinary mode to the EBW is possible for 28 GHz injection in Proto-MPEX. Calculations show that by utilizing the effects of Doppler-shifted resonance absorption, power deposition near the core is possible. Finally, significant collisional damping, leading to edge absorption, is expected to occur for neutral pressures >1.0 mTorr; however, experiments can be designed to minimize these effects.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1833986
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1461604
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 25, Issue 7; ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 18 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Utilization of O-X-B mode conversion of 28 GHz microwaves to heat core electrons in the upgraded Proto-MPEX journal May 2019
Differential pumping requirements for the light-ion helicon source and heating systems of Proto-MPEX journal August 2018
Evidence of electron heating at different radial locations on Proto-MPEX journal March 2019
Latest Results from Proto-MPEX and the Future Plans for MPEX journal June 2019