Effects of high-power ion Bernstein waves on a tokamak plasma.

Abstract

Ion Bernstein wave heating (IBWH) has been investigated on PLT with up to 650 kW of rf power coupled to the plasma, exceeding the ohmic power of 550 kW. Plasma antenna loading of 2 ..cap omega.. has been observed, resulting in 80 to 90% of the rf power being coupled to the plasma. An ion heating efficiency of ..delta..T/sub i/(0)n/sub e//P/sub rf/ = 6 x 10/sup 13/ eV cm/sup -3//kW, without high energy tail ions, has been observed up to the maximum rf power. The deuterium particle confinement during high power IBWH increases significantly (as much as 300%). Associated with it, a longer injected impurity confinement time, reduced drift wave turbulence activity, frequency shifts of drfit wave turbulence, and development of a large negative edge potential were observed. The energy confinement time, however, shows some degradation from the ohmic value, which can be attributed to the enhanced radiation loss observed during IBWH. The ion heating and energy confinement time are relatively independent of plasma current.