Invited paper: Interaction between RF and edge plasma during ICRF heating in JT-60

Abstract

Heating experiments in the second harmonic ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) have been performed with a phased array of 2×2 loop antennas in JT-60. Properties of antenna-plasma coupling are examined by phasing antenna currents in the toroidal direction. In particular, it is first found that the antenna-plasma coupling resistance increases after the H-mode transition in out-of-phase excitation of antenna currents. This result is well explained with the cold plasma coupling theory which takes into account a change in the edge density profile at the transition. Two types of parametric decay instabilities near the plasma edge are observed. One type is decay into an ion Bernstein wave (IBW) and an ion cyclotron quasimode (IQM) and the other into an ion Bernstein wave and a cold electrostatic ion cyclotron wave (CESICW) or an electron quasimode (EQM). Intensity of IBW detected by a probe near the antenna in the decay into IBW and IQM increases with reduction of B T and I p. The decay instabilities are observed only in the case of in-phase excitation. The edge plasma is heated by the decay instability and the radiation loss during ICRF heating increases with the decay activity.