Whistlers, helicons, and lower hybrid waves: The physics of radio frequency wave propagation and absorption for current drive via Landau damping
Abstract
This introductory-level tutorial article describes the application of plasma waves in the lower hybrid range of frequencies for current drive in tokamaks. Wave damping mechanisms in a nearly collisionless hot magnetized plasma are briefly described, and the connections between the properties of the damping mechanisms and the optimal choices of wave properties (mode, frequency, wavelength) are explored. The two wave modes available for current drive in the lower hybrid range of frequencies (LHRF) are described and compared. The terms applied to these waves in different applications of plasma physics are elucidated. Here, the character of the ray paths of these waves in the LHRF is illustrated in slab and toroidal geometries. An upcoming experiment on one of these two wave modes, the “helicon” or “whistler”, to be carried out on the DIII-D tokamak, is described.
- Authors:
-
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1356318
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1229679
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FC02-04ER54698
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physics of Plasmas
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 22; Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Citation Formats
Pinsker, Robert I. Whistlers, helicons, and lower hybrid waves: The physics of radio frequency wave propagation and absorption for current drive via Landau damping. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1063/1.4930135.
Pinsker, Robert I. Whistlers, helicons, and lower hybrid waves: The physics of radio frequency wave propagation and absorption for current drive via Landau damping. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4930135
Pinsker, Robert I. Thu .
"Whistlers, helicons, and lower hybrid waves: The physics of radio frequency wave propagation and absorption for current drive via Landau damping". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4930135. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1356318.
@article{osti_1356318,
title = {Whistlers, helicons, and lower hybrid waves: The physics of radio frequency wave propagation and absorption for current drive via Landau damping},
author = {Pinsker, Robert I.},
abstractNote = {This introductory-level tutorial article describes the application of plasma waves in the lower hybrid range of frequencies for current drive in tokamaks. Wave damping mechanisms in a nearly collisionless hot magnetized plasma are briefly described, and the connections between the properties of the damping mechanisms and the optimal choices of wave properties (mode, frequency, wavelength) are explored. The two wave modes available for current drive in the lower hybrid range of frequencies (LHRF) are described and compared. The terms applied to these waves in different applications of plasma physics are elucidated. Here, the character of the ray paths of these waves in the LHRF is illustrated in slab and toroidal geometries. An upcoming experiment on one of these two wave modes, the “helicon” or “whistler”, to be carried out on the DIII-D tokamak, is described.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4930135},
journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
number = 9,
volume = 22,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 24 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu Sep 24 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Low-frequency whistler waves in quiescent runaway electron plasmas
journal, November 2018
- Heidbrink, W. W.; Paz-Soldan, C.; Spong, D. A.
- Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Vol. 61, Issue 1
Survey of heating and current drive for K-DEMO
journal, January 2018
- Mikkelsen, D. R.; Kessel, C. E.; Poli, F. M.
- Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 58, Issue 3
Experiments on helicons in DIII-D—investigation of the physics of a reactor-relevant non-inductive current drive technology
journal, July 2018
- Pinsker, R. I.; Prater, R.; Moeller, C. P.
- Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 58, Issue 10