Full-wave Simulations of LH wave propagation in toroidal plasma with non-Maxwellian electron distributions.

The generation of energetic tails in the electron distribution function is intrinsic to lower-hybrid (LH) heating and current drive in weakly collisional magnetically confined plasma. The effects of these deformations on the RF deposition profile have previously been examined within the ray approximation [1, 2]. Recently, the calculation of full-wave propagation of LH waves in a thermal plasma [3] has been accomplished using an adaptation of the TORIC [4] code. Here, initial results are presented from TORIC simulations of LH propagation in a toroidal plasma with non-thermal electrons. The required efficient computation of the hot plasma dielectric tensor is accomplished using a technique previously demonstrated in full-wave simulations of ICRF propagation in plasma with non-thermal ions [5]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]