Erckmann V., Kasparek W., Plaum B., Lechte C., Petelin M.I., Bruschi A., D'Arcangelo O., Bin W., Braune H., van den Braber R., Doelman N., Gantenbein G., Laqua H.P., Lubiako L., Marushchenko N.B., Michel G., Thumm M., W7-X, ECRH, teams IPP, IPF, and KIT6
Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) systems for next step-fusion devices like W7-X and ITER operate in CW-mode and provide a large flexibility to comply with various physics demands such as plasma start-up, heating and current drive, as well as configuration and MHD control. The request for many different sophisticated applications results in a growing complexity of the systems. This is in conflict with the request for high availability, reliability, and maintainability, which arises from DEMO demands. 'Advanced' ECRH-components must, therefore, comply with both the complex physics demands and operational robustness and reliability. The W7-X ECRH system is the first CW facility of an ITER relevant size and is used as a test bed for such components. Results on improvements of gyrotrons, transmission components and launchers are presented together with proposals for future developments. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.