Efficient Ion Heating via Finite-Larmor-Radius Ion-Cyclotron Waves in a Plasma

Abstract
Ion heating by externally launched ion Bernstein waves is investigated in the ACT-1 hydrogen plasma. Detailed measurements of wave absorption and of the ion temperature profiles have clearly identified various heating layers near the ion-cyclotron harmonics of deuteriumlike and tritiumlike ions. The observed bulk ion heating with heating quality factor of 10 eV/W.(1010 cm3) and the power balance estimates suggest excellent overall efficiency for finite-Larmor-radius-ion-cyclotron-resonance-frequency heating.