Advances in full-wave modeling of radio frequency heated, multidimensional plasmas

Previous full-wave models for rf heating in multidimensional plasmas have relied on either cold-plasma or finite Larmor radius approximations. These models assume that the perpendicular wavelength of the rf field is much larger than the ion Larmor radius, and they are therefore limited to relatively long wavelengths and low cyclotron harmonics. Recently, alternate full-wave models have been developed that eliminate these restrictions. These “all orders spectral algorithms” take advantage of new computational techniques for massively parallel computers to solve the integral form of the wave equation in multiple dimensions without any restriction on wavelength relative to orbit size, and with no limit on the number of cyclotron harmonics retained. These new models give high-resolution, two-dimensional solutions for mode conversion and high harmonic fast wave heating in tokamak geometry. In addition, they have been extended to give fully three-dimensional solutions of the integral wave equation for minority ion cyclotron heating in stellarator geometry. By combining multiple periodic solutions for individual helical field periods, it is possible to obtain complete wave solutions valid over the entire volume of the stellarator for arbitrary antenna geometry.