EDGE MODELING OF ICRF HEATED PLASMAS ON PLT

Theoretical models are presented to explain the edge plasma-antenna interaction that occurs during ICRF heating. The periodic structure of the Faraday shield is found to result in strong ponderomotive force in the vicinity of the antenna. A fluid model, which incorporates the ponderomotive force, predicts an increase in particle transport to the Faraday shield. Kinetic modelling shows that the strong antenna near-fields act to increase the energy of deuterons that strike the shield, thereby increasing the sputtering of shield material. In addition, kinetic modelling shows that E1 induced between adjacent shield elements acts to heat edge electrons that transit close to the antenna. The predictions of the models are shown to be consistent with measurements of enhanced transport on PLT. © 1990 IOP Publishing Ltd.