Development of a compact ICRF antenna for high-power and long-pulse plasma heating in the KSTAR

Abstract

For the high-power and long-pulse ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating of the KSTAR plasma, we developed the compact ICRF antenna (CIA). The target injection power of CIA is 2 MW for 300 s. In order to continue injecting the power into plasma even if drastic instantaneous changes occur in the plasma condition, such as ELM events, we adopted the internal conjugate-T method for the load resilience. Between antenna heads and the junction point, impedance transformers were inserted to satisfy the condition of conjugate-T in a limited space keeping the electric field on the transformer low enough. To reduce the risk of water leakage into the vacuum chamber, only the backsides of antenna heads are water-cooled in the in-vessel region.