Effects of non-Maxwellian species on ion cyclotron waves propagation and absorption in magnetically confined plasmas
- Association Euratom-CEA, CEA/DSM/DRFC, Centre de Cadarache, 13108 Saint-Paul lez Durance (France)
Magnetically confined plasmas can contain significant concentrations of nonthermal particles, arising from neutral beam injection, fusion reactions, shock heating, or wave-driven acceleration of resonant plasma species. The associated distribution functions can depart significantly from Maxwellians, which may impact the propagation and absorption of radio frequency waves. The potential effect of these particles has been investigated using a full-wave code that has been extended to handle gyrotropic, but otherwise arbitrary distribution functions. This code has been used to numerically simulate ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) in magnetic fusion plasmas in which coresonant neutral beam injection (NBI) heating may also be applied. The presence of nonthermal ion populations generated by the NBI can alter the ICRH characteristics. Two situations involving ion cyclotron range of frequency waves are presented: fast wave to ion Bernstein wave mode conversion and high harmonic fast wave electron heating. In both cases, the adequacy of an equivalent Maxwellian-based description is discussed. Results indicate that the absorption profiles are more strongly affected than the wave fields by the presence of nonthermal species.
- OSTI ID:
- 20736515
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 12, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1881472; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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