Characteristics of lower-hybrid-wave-driven steady-state tokamak power reactors

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The use of lower hybrid waves for current drive in steady-state tokamak power reactors is studied. Constraints imposed by RF wave propagation are considered. The effect of decoupling of electron and ion temperatures is studied and is found to enhance the ratio of fusion power to dissipated power. Tradeoffs for parameters of RF-driven steady-state reactors are determined. It is found that RF-driven steady-state current operation is especially suitable for high-field high-density reactor designs. For example, this study indicates that a tokamak power reactor characterized by a major radius of 6 m, a magnetic field on axis of 7.5 T, and a fusion power output of 2500 MW could be driven in steady-state operation with RF power level equal to 2.5% of the fusion power output.