Suppression of plasma formation in waveguide antennas for lower-hybrid heating

Conference · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5417651

Knowlton, S F; Porkolab, M; Luckhardt, S C

A magnetic field has been applied to the 800 MHz four-waveguide lower-hybrid heating grill on the Versator II tokamak to suppress plasma formation and RF breakdown in the evacuated waveguides during tokamak operation. Without an auxiliary magnetic field, the incident power density is limited typically to 0.13 kW/cm/sup 2/. When the imposed magnetic field in the antenna is above the electron-cyclotron resonance value, the grill operates without RF breakdown or plasma formation at an incident power level of 0.42 kW/cm/sup 2/, limited only by the available RF power. A power density of 0.94 kW/cm/sup 2/ has been achieved when all the RF power was injected into one waveguide, again with no evidence of plasma formation.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Plasma Fusion Center
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-78ET51013
• OSTI ID: 5417651
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/51013-42; PFC/CP-82-6; CONF-820345-12; ON: DE82014392
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
ANTENNAS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
HYBRID RESONANCE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA HEATING
RESONANCE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
WAVEGUIDES