Surface heating, density rippling, and propagation cones in high-power lower-hybrid heating

Abstract

A two-and-one-half dimensional electrostatic particle simulation code has been applied to study power penetration of the lower-hybrid plasma heating. Strong surface electron heating (stochastic) is observed. Density ripples due to ponderomotive forces along a constant magnetic field appear, not near the plasma surface, but slightly deeper inside the plasma. As an effect of surface heating, the lower-hybrid propagation cones are bent more toward the magnetic field lines, impairing penetration of the lower-hybrid waves.