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ECRH&CD is one of the favorite heating system for magnetically confined nuclear fusion plasmas. KIT is strongly involved in the development of high power gyrotrons for use in ECRH systems for nuclear fusion. KIT is upgrading the sub-components of the existing 2 MW, 170 GHz coaxial-cavity short-pulse gyrotron to support long-pulse operation up to 1 s, all components will be equipped with a specific active cooling system. Two important developments for future high power, highly efficient gyrotrons will be discussed: design of gyrotrons with high operating frequency (∼ 240 GHz) and efficiency enhancement by using advanced collector designs with multi-staged voltage depression.

The 170 GHz 2 MW TE34,19-mode coaxial-cavity modular short-pulse pre-prototype gyrotron at KIT was recently modified in order to verify the multi-megawatt coaxial-cavity technology at longer pulses. In parallel, theoretical investigations on a possibility to operate the 170 GHz TE34,19-mode coaxial-cavity prototype at multiple frequencies up to 238 GHz have been started, with a goal to find a configuration at which the tube could operate in the KIT FULGOR gyrotron test facility using the new 10.5 T SC magnet. This paper indicates which adjustments have to be made and show the feasibility of the multi-frequency operation. Small modifications at the gyrotron cavity will support an RF output power of more than 2 MW at 170/204 GHz. Furthermore, a new gyrotron launcher has been designed capable of producing a Gaussian microwave beam with a Gaussian mode content of more than 96% at these frequencies.

During the ongoing pre-concept phase (2014 – 2020) for a possible future European DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO) the activities within EUROfusion WP HCD EC Gyrotron R&D and Advanced Developments are focusing on options for near-term solutions, and, at the same time, on long-term even more advanced options. The near-term target for DEMO is to realize pulsed operation. According to the current baseline it will probably use an EC system operating at 170 GHz and 204 GHz is being assessed, whereas the long-term target aims for steady-state operation and frequencies for current drive up to 240 GHz. Common targets for both are an RF output power per unit of significantly above 1 MW (target: 2 MW) and a total gyrotron efficiency of significantly higher than 60 %. Frequency step-tunability and multi-purpose/multi-frequency operation have to be considered. Those targets shall be achieved by considering the coaxial-cavity gyrotron technology and advanced technologies for key components (e.g. CVD diamond-disk Brewster angle window). Advanced simulation and test tools are complementing the research and developments. Gyrotron development is additionally supported by a significant investment into a new multi-megawatt long-pulse gyrotron test stand which is under final installation at KIT currently.

The development of mode conversion waveguides (launchers) for high power gyrotrons has gone through three stages at KIT. Formerly, harmonically deformed launchers have been used in the series gyrotrons developed for the stellarator W7-X. In 2009, a numerical method for the analysis and synthesis of mirror-line launchers was developed at KIT. Such a launcher with adapted mode-converting mirrors for a 2 MW TE34,19- mode, 170GHz coaxial-cavity gyrotron has been designed and tested, and also a mirror-line launcher for the 1MW EU ITER gyrotron has been designed. Recently, based on the Helmholtz-Kirchhoff integral theorem, a novel numerical method for the synthesis of hybrid-type gyrotron launchers has been developed. As an example, TE32,9 mode launchers operating at 170GHz that have been designed using the three different methods are being compared.

The European Gyrotron Consortium (EGYC) is responsible for developing one set of 170 GHz mm-wave sources, in support of Europe’s contribution to ITER. The original plan of targeting a 2 MW coaxial gyrotron is currently under discussion, in view of essential delays and damages. This paper reports on the latest results and plans with regard to the two 2 MW gyrotron prototypes, the industrial prototype at CRPP’s CW test stand and a modular pre-prototype at KIT. The industrial prototype was delivered to CRPP end of September 2011 and reached an output power of 2 MW at an efficiency of 45 % and with good RF beam pattern, in only four days of short pulse RF test. These results validated all design changes made in reaction to the results of the experiments in 2008. On the fifth experimental day, an internal absorber broke, terminating any further experiment with this tube. In parallel, design and experimental activities at KIT went on, in particular featuring reduced stray radiation down to 4% of the RF power. Next years’ plans for the 2 MW modular pre-prototype foresee a stepwise increase of pulse length.