Electron cyclotron resonance heating and current drive in toroidal fusion plasmas

Abstract

A review of experiments and theory of electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) and current drive (ECCD) is presented. An outline of the basic linear theory of wave propagation and absorption in the electron cyclotron range of frequencies and their harmonics is given and compared with experimental results from many devices. The experimental data base on quasilinear and nonlinear physics as well as on parametric wave decay is reviewed and compared to theory. Experiments and theory on doppler shifted absorption either by bulk or tail electrons (which can be created by other means) are discussed. ECRH provides means for controlled plasma breakdown and current ramp up in tokamaks and plays a key role in net current-free stellarator research. Start-up was investigated in many tokamaks and stellarators and the results are discussed in the light of the present day theoretical understanding. The role of ECRH to improve the understanding of both particle and energy confinement is described and special heating correlated features, such as 'density pump out' during ECRH are discussed. The application of modulated ECRH for perturbative heat wave studies and the comparison with both sawtooth heat pulse propagation and the steady state power balance analysis is presented. Electron cyclotron current drive is a possible method for current profile and MHD control in tokamaks and provides means for bootstrap current compensation in stellarators. The basic theory of electron cyclotron current drive is presented and compared to experiments in both tokamaks and stellarators. Experiments on sawtooth stabilization and MHD control by ECRH or ECCD are discussed and compared to theory. An increasing number of fusion devices is equipped with ECRH for bulk heating and sophisticated plasma physics investigations. A remarkable extension of the accessible plasma parameter range became possible by the recent development of sources with high power (1 MW) and frequency (110-160 GHz). Particular emphasis is given to new experiments and the refinement of theory incorporating plasma phenomena and the mutual impact on the wave physics.