Fast-wave current drive in the Irvine torus

Steady-state electron currents were driven by fast waves with ${\omega }_{\mathrm{ci}}$≪ω≪${\omega }_{\mathrm{ce}}$ in an initially current-free plasma in the Irvine Torus. Current direction was controlled by the fast-wave phased-array antenna. Low power experiments (<25 W) generated up to 1.3 A of electron current with a peak effeciency of η=InR/P≃(6×${10}^{\mathrm{-}2}$ A/W)(${10}^{13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}3}$)m. Up to 14% of the wave energy was converted to poloidal magnetic field energy.