Mode conversion of fast magnetosonic waves and minority ion heating in a longitudinally inhomogeneous magnetic field

Abstract

Mode conversion process in ICRF (Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies) in a longitudinally inhomogeneous two-ion-species plasma is clarified in the HIEI tandem mirror experiments. Measurements of wave number parallel to the magnetic field reveal that the fast magnetosonic wave of low-field-side incidence converts into the slow ion-cyclotron wave near the ion–ion hybrid resonance. The propagation of the slow wave is detected between the ion–ion hybrid resonance and minority ion cyclotron resonance layers, which shows good agreement with the calculated dispersion relation based on one- and two-dimensional plasma models. Simultaneous minority ion heating is observed, and it is due to the presence of the slow wave that resonates with minority ions at the minority ion cyclotron resonance.