Ion Cyclotron Wave Heating Research Articles

Simulation of ion cyclotron wave heating in the EXL-50U spherical tokamak based on dispersion relations

This study investigates the single-pass absorption (SPA) of ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) heating in hydrogen plasma of the EXL-50U spherical tokamak, which is an upgraded EXL-50 device with a central solenoid and a stronger magnetic field. The reliability of the kinetic dispersion equation is confirmed by the one-dimensional full-wave code, and the applicability of Porkolab's simplified theoretical SPA model is discussed based on the kinetic dispersion equation. Simulations are conducted to investigate the heating effects of the fundamental and second harmonic frequencies. The results indicate that with the design parameters of the EXL-50U device, the SPA for second harmonic heating is 63%, while the SPA for fundamental heating is 13%. Additionally, the optimal injection frequencies are 23 MHz at 0.9 T and 31 MHz at 1.2 T. The wave vector of the antenna parallel to the magnetic field, with a value of , falls within the optimal heating region. Simulations reveal that the ICRF heating system can play an important role in the ion heating of the EXL-50U.

The residual zonal flow in tokamak plasmas with a poloidal electric field

In a tokamak plasma with auxiliary heating by cyclotron waves, a poloidal electric field will be produced, and as a consequence influence the residual zonal flow (RZF) level. The poloidal electric field can also be induced through biasing electrodes at the edge region of tokamaks. Numerical evaluation for a large aspect ratio circular cross section tokamak for the electron cyclotron wave heating indicates that the RZF level decreases significantly when the poloidal electric field increases. Qualitatively, the ion cyclotron wave heating is able to increase the RZF level. It is difficult to apply the calculation to the real cyclotron wave heating experiments since we need to know factors such as the plasma profiles, the exact power deposition and the cross section geometry, etc. It is possible to use the cyclotron wave heating to control the zonal flow and then to control the turbulence level in tokamak experiments.

Wave acceleration of the fast solar wind

Observations show that the solar wind exhibits two modes of outflow: the slow (∼400 km s −1), high density, highly variable wind that emerges from equatorial solar regions, and the high latitude, fast (∼800 km s −1), low density, steady solar wind. The bi-modal solar wind outflow is most evident near minima of solar activity. Theoretical studies of the fast solar wind in open magnetic structures motivated by SOHO, Ulysses, and Helios observations indicate that both, high frequency kinetic waves, and low frequency MHD waves play a role in its acceleration and heating. Ion-cyclotron waves have been suggested as the main energy source of the solar wind. However, there are theoretical difficulties with the ion-cyclotron wave heating of the protons, and these waves do not heat electrons. Low frequency MHD waves are still the best candidates to transport momentum and energy far from the Sun, to accelerate the solar wind on large spatial scales. I will present recently developed two-dimensional three-fluid model that includes explicit wave acceleration, and visco-resistive dissipation. The model describes electrons, protons, and minor ions as three coupled fluids that are heated by different heating processes with the parameters constrained by observations. I will present the results of 2.5D three-fluid simulations of the fast solar wind plasma that combine the effects of MHD waves self-consistently, and ion-cyclotron waves parametrically on the acceleration and heating processes. I will present the results of hybrid kinetic models of ion-cyclotron wave heating of the heavy ions in the solar wind plasma.

Design of High Power DC Break for ICRH of EAST

1.5 MW Ion Cyclotron Wave Heating system was developed, the transmitter and the antenna both have their ground loops, which will severely perturb the system's normal operation. To avoid perturbation, a DC break was designed. The S parameter and the VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) of incident port were calculated; the thermal effect caused by conductor loss and dielectric loss was analyzed.

Ion Joule heating as a function of electric field scale size

In an earlier work we described a laboratory‐based experimental series that demonstrated the transition from velocity‐shear‐driven ion cyclotron wave heating to ion Joule heating as a function of ion‐neutral collision frequency. As part of this effort, we demonstrated the ability to control the magnitude and direction of the electric field (or the sign of potential change) in space in a simulated ionospheric environment. In the results presented here we have calculated the electric field by differentiation of a fit to the potential profile and have used the full width at half maximum of this field as a marker for the size of the region. In the case of the ion temperature measurements, which are derived from energy analyzer data by conventional techniques, we demonstrate increased ion temperature consistent with increasing electric field region length. We also have been able to demonstrate a peak in the ion temperature as a function of collision frequency and the Joule heating rate. The data suggest that for approximately constant pressure and electric field strength, the normalized ion temperature increase will be limited for a given scale size. Finally, we argue that these observations are consistent with the notion of a limit to ion heating based on a comparison of the scale length of the region to the mean free path for ion‐neutral collisions.

Characterization of Joule heating in structured electric field environments

We have recently performed a detailed characterization of ion Joule heating perpendicular to an axial magnetic field in the laboratory in a simulated ionospheric plasma environment which contains localized electric field structuring. Since Joule heating is often regarded as an important mechanism contributing to energization of outflowing heavy ions observed by higher‐altitude auroral satellites, this work has particular relevance to space physics issues, and, to our knowledge, has not been investigated systematically in a controlled environment. Since transverse (to B) ionospheric electric fields are often spatially and temporally structured, with scale lengths often as small as an ion gyroradius, the ability to systematically vary the spatial extent and magnitude of an electric field region and to observe the effect on ion energy is important. The experiment makes use of a concentric set of separately biasable ring anodes which generate a radial electric field with controllable scale length perpendicular to an ambient axial magnetic field. Joule heating results from ion‐neutral collisions occurring within this transverse, dc electric field. Until there is sufficient neutral pressure to raise the ion‐neutral collision frequency (vin) to an observable Joule heating threshold, ion cyclotron wave heating, which is induced by shear in E × B rotation, can be the primary channel for ion energization. We have discussed in earlier papers the conditions under which this occurs, and we have treated the transition between the two forms of ion heating. We concentrate primarily in this work on constructing the fields themselves and on the relationship between the subsequent collisional heating and the Pedersen conductivity as an initial indication of the validity of the measurement results. We are able to demonstrate that measurable heating is produced by even relatively small scale structures of the order of the ion gyroradius. In addition, we show that measured heating is consistent with predictions of Joule heating as a function of ion‐neutral collisions. Finally, this work can have major implications for ionospheric studies where large‐scale electric fields are often assumed in the calculation of Joule heating.

Plasma production with rotating ion cyclotron waves excited by Nagoya Type-III antennas in RFC-XX

A method of plasma production by ion cyclotron wave heating has been developed in RFC-XX. Nagoya Type-III antennas were used for wave excitation, and gas was supplied through a gas box. The effect of the rotating field excitation on plasma production and heating was investigated. In the m = − 1 rotational mode (rotation in the direction of ion cyclotron motion), the plasma density profile is flat within the gas box bore with a line integrated density nℓ = 3 × 1013cm−2, and the ion temperature is Ti ≈ 150 eV. For the m = +1 mode, a high density plasma was obtained with a different profile having a peak at the centre. In this mode, the line integrated density is nℓ = 3 × 1014cm−2, with the peak density n(0) = 7 × 1013cm−3.

Proton observations supporting the ion cyclotron wave heating theory of SAR arc formation

Low altitude satellite observations of precipitated and locally mirroring protons during periods of ground-based SAR arc observations are presented. The SAR arcs are found to be located in a region with significantly enhanced proton pitch angle scattering and enhanced electron temperature, but inside the plasmapause where the proton pitch angle distribution is anisotropic. The increase in the pitch angle scattering takes place in a localized region having a width of a few tenths of a L-value. The observations can favourably be accounted for by the Cornwall et al. (1971) theory for the SAR arc formation. Using observed proton fluxes and typical energy spectra, the expected Hβ intensity in the SAR arc region is estimated to be a few Rayleighs, and the energy flux from precipitated protons above a few keV to be 10 −2−10 −1erg/cm 2s. These estimates are in reasonable agreement with previously published theoretical and experimental values. Simultaneous groundbased observations of Hα emissions were found in the region of intense, isotropic proton precipitation located outside the plasmapause.