Electron-cyclotron resonance heating in tandem mirrors
Using numerical ray-tracing techniques, we study the propagation and absorption profiles of electromagnetic waves launched in the end cells of three different tandem mirrors: Phaedrus, an overdense low-temperature tandem mirror with plugs; TASKA, a conceptual tandem mirror with plugs and thermal barrier; and TMX-U, a tandem mirror with a significant hot-electron population. In particular, the effects of weakly relativistic thermal anisotropy on the absorption profile are examined. In general, at sufficiently low densities and temperatures, the X mode can access the plasma and achieve significant heating of the electrons. As the electron temperature increases, the X mode gets quickly absorbed at the edge and only the O mode achieves significant penetration and heating. For sufficiently large launching angles, the presence of thermal anisotropy can actually shift the region of maximum absorption towards the electron-cyclotron resonance layer. Regions of whistler instability appear along rays launched nearly along the machine axis, when the thermal-anisotropy ratio, temperature, and density reach sufficiently high values.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
- OSTI ID:
- 5364541
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States) Vol. PS-13:1; ISSN ITPSB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
ACCELERATORS
DYNAMITRONS
ECR HEATING
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTROSTATIC ACCELERATORS
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MATHEMATICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA WAVES
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
TANDEM MIRRORS
THERMAL BARRIERS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TMX DEVICES