Interplay of kinetic and transport effects on RF current drive

A numerical model for predictive simulations of radiofrequency current drive in magnetically confined plasmas is developed. It includes the minimum requirements for a self-consistent description of such regimes, i.e., a 3-dimensional kinetic equation for the electron distribution function, 1-dimensional heat and current transport equations, and resonant coupling between velocity space and configuration space dynamics, through suitable wave propagation equations. The basic properties of this non-linear numerical system are investigated and illustrated by simulations applied to reversed magnetic shear regimes obtained by Lower Hybrid and Electron Cyclotron current drive for parameters typical of the Tore Supra tokamak.