Design and optimization of an ICP reactor with planar antenna as a driver in ISTAPHM and validation of AMPICP model

Abstract

The present work is related to the method for designing a driver for low pressure plasma sources using the AMPICP model. Particularly, it is related to equipment for producing plasma, which can be used for driver of the simulator project (ISTAPHM) of the interactions between ICRF antenna and plasma on Tokamak Nuclear Fusion Reactors. Here, two important aspects of this modeling are discussed: firstly, optimization of geometrical parameters for driver of source plasma in ISTAPHM and secondly, Simulation and computation of the EM fields adjusted for a planar antenna (PA) of driver. The work is focused on the characterization of low pressure Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) source and the features of a helicon chamber. Numerical simulations of ICP with PA were presented to optimize the plasma characteristics. The results of the AMPICP model for designing of ICP reactor as the driver in ISTAPHM were also evaluated using the power balance model. This paper also presents a two dimensional simulation for the EM field inside the ICP reactor for homogeneous plasma and compares the optimized and laboratory results with each other. From the measurements of the magnetic field inside the reactor using a magnetic probe, the electron number density and effective collision frequency can be estimated. The form of magnetic field lines inside the vessel was investigated and theoretical field lines were presented in the paper. The results of analyses as a function of operating parameters were presented to be measured with fixed and movable Langmuir probes. Optical Emission Spectra were recorded for different gas flow rates and filling pressures at constant power level by spectrometer. The variation in the intensity ratio of the selected emission lines, electron temperature and density was studied as a function of gas flow rate and filling pressure.