Lower Hybrid Current Drive: An Overview of Simulation Models, Benchmarking with Experiment, and Predictions for Future Devices.

This paper reviews the status of lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) simulation and modeling. We first discuss modules used for wave propagation, absorption, and current drive with particular emphasis placed on comparing exact numerical solutions of the Fokker Planck equation in 2-D with solution methods that employ 1-D and adjoint approaches. We also survey model predictions for LHCD in past and present experiments showing detailed comparisons between simulated and observed current drive efficiencies and hard X-ray profiles. Finally we discuss several model predictions for LH current profile control in proposed next step reactor options. © 2003 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]