Abstract
In this paper we discuss improvements made to two codes for the simulation of ICRF waves in edge plasmas: SSWICH-SW, which self-consistently models the interplay between sheath physics and radiofrequency waves (the slow wave), and RAPLICASOL, a Finite Element solver for Maxwell's equations in the cold plasma approximation. We have extended both to be able to handle 3D plasma density profiles. A comparison between a 1D and a 3D simulation reveals that the density profile dimensionality has a relatively small effect on E || at the aperture, but a large effect on the sheath potential at the antenna limiters
Highlights
It is important to understand the behaviour of Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies (ICRF) waves in edge plasmas and near the antenna, in order to understand the physical mechanisms underlying experimental observations such as ion sputtering [1, 2], RF induced convection [3], and variation in power coupling to the plasma
Because the cold plasma dielectric tensor depends on quantities that depend on the spatial coordinates, it is relatively straightforward to extend them to handle 3D density profiles
Coupling and reflection depend on the radial gradient of the density, this maximum density does not have a large effect on the reflected waves, if it is chosen large enough for the waves to be propagating at that density
Summary
It is important to understand the behaviour of Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies (ICRF) waves in edge plasmas and near the antenna, in order to understand the physical mechanisms underlying experimental observations such as ion sputtering [1, 2], RF induced convection [3], and variation in power coupling to the plasma. SSWICH-SW (Self-consistent Sheaths and Waves for Ion Cyclotron Heating (Slow Wave) [7,8,9]) to selfconsistently determine the nonlinear plasma sheath potential and related quantities. Both codes model physics in Cartesian coordinates, which neglect toroidal and poloidal curvature, but are spatial coordinates, as opposed to codes such as TOPICA which operate in Fourier k space. Because the cold plasma dielectric tensor depends on quantities that depend on the spatial coordinates, it is relatively straightforward to extend them to handle 3D density profiles (or 3D variation of other physical quantities such as the background magnetic field or the electron and ion temperature)
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