ICRF heating in Alcator C-Mod: Present status and future prospects

Journal Article · Mon Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.59716· OSTI ID:20216680

Porkolab, M ^[1]; Fiore, C ^[1]; Greenwald, M ^[1]; Hosea, J C ^[2]; Hubbard, A ^[1]; Hutchinson, I ^[1]; Irby, J ^[1]; Nelson-Melby, E ^[1]; Marmar, E ^[1]; Phillips, C K ^[2]

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1. MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey, 08543 (United States)

Alcator C-Mod, the high field, high density, diverted, compact tokamak in the world's portfolio of high performance plasma fusion devices, is heated exclusively with ICRF auxiliary power. In this paper an overview of recent results is summarized, with particular attention given to the importance of RF operation and the flexibility afforded by different heating scenarios. Besides the routine minority heating operation, results in the mode conversion heating regime are also presented (mainly direct electron heating through mode converted ion Bernstein waves). Recent attempts at improving plasma performance by establishing internal transport barriers (ITBs) by various transient profile control techniques (the so-called Advanced Tokamak mode of operation) are also presented. Future improvements in performance afforded by the recent addition of a new 4-strap antenna and 4 MW of tunable (40-80 MHz) ICRF power are also discussed. Mode-conversion current drive (MCCD) and fast wave current drive (FWCD) will be among the many new options that will be tested with the goal of improving plasma performance. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.

• OSTI ID: 20216680
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 485; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BERNSTEIN MODE
CURRENT-DRIVE HEATING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ICR HEATING
POWER RANGE 01-10 MW
ROTATING PLASMA
TOKAMAK TYPE REACTORS