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Author(s):
H. Igami, Y. Yoshimura, S. Kubo, T. Shimozuma, H. Takahashi, T. Akiyama, C. Takahashi, K. Nagaoka, T. Minami, K. Matsuoka, S. Okamura, H. Tanaka, K. Nagasaki, S. Inagaki, T. Mutoh, A. Komori, the LHD experimental group and the CHS experimental group
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Title:
Electron Bernstein wave heating via the slow X-B mode conversion process with direct launching from the high field side in LHD
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Date of publication:
Oct. 2008
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Key words:
21 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, EX/P6-13
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Abstract:
In the large helical device (LHD), direct oblique launching of the extraordinary (X-) mode from the high magnetic field side is available without installation of any additional mirror or installation of a launcher in the inner side of the torus. The launched X-mode first encounters the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) layer from the high magnetic field side and then approaches the upper hybrid resonance (UHR) layer where mode conversion from the X-mode to electron Bernstein wave (EBW) occurs. Complete power absorption with a finite parallel component of the refractive index is promising whether the launched wave power is absorbed as the electromagnetic X-mode or is absorbed as electrostatic EBW even in the peripheral region. In the experiment, strong power absorption has been observed by direct oblique launching of the X-mode. Observation of the parametric decay wave suggests a fraction of the launched power reached the UHR layer that is located near the plasma boundary. The result of numerical analysis with three dimensional ray-tracing calculation using the dispersion equation in hot plasmas suggests that the launched X-mode is refracted toward the magnetic axis and strongly absorbed very close to the ECR layer that is located around rho ~0.5. The main part of the launched power is absorbed as the X-mode in the ECR layer where the electron temperature is sufficient high, while a fraction of the power reaches the UHR that is located in almost the plasma boundary.
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