On the feasibility of electron cyclotron heating of overcritical plasma in a magnetic mirror trap

Abstract

The feasibility of matching electromagnetic radiation in the electron cyclotron frequency range to a dense plasma in an open magnetic trap by producing an inverted (with a minimum on the axis) plasma density profile is discussed. The use of such a profile shows promise for the implementation of efficient cyclotron heating at plasma densities above the critical density, at which the Langmuir frequency is equal to the heating radiation frequency. Examples of the magnetic field and plasma density distributions in a mirror trap are presented for which analysis of the beam trajectories shows the feasibility of efficient electron cyclotron absorption of microwave beams in overcritical plasma.