Relativistic Modifications to Electron Bernstein Waves

Journal Article · Mon Sep 26 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2098258· OSTI ID:20726345

Ram, A K; Decker, J ^[1]

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1. Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT, Cambridge MA 02139 (United States)

In the electron cyclotron range of frequencies (ECRF), electron Bernstein waves (EBW) offer an attractive means for driving plasma currents in spherical tori (ST) such as NSTX. Previously it has been shown that, for ECRF waves, relativistic effects significantly modify the propagation and damping of the extraordinary and ordinary modes. A fully relativistic dispersion code R2D2 has been developed for studying the relativistic characteristics of all ECRF waves. In this paper we report on initial results obtained from this code which illustrate the relativistic modifications to the propagation and damping of EBWs. We find that even at temperatures relevant to present spherical tori, the relativistic dispersion properties of EBWs are significantly different from their non-relativistic counterpart.

• OSTI ID: 20726345
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 787; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BERNSTEIN MODE
DAMPING
ECR HEATING
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE
ELECTRONS
NSTX DEVICE
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
R CODES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RF SYSTEMS
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION