Anisotropic analysis of ion distributions distorted by ICRH in a tokamak plasma

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Abstract
A new analytical approach is given to derive the stationary pitch angle averaged ion distribution in the presence of r.f.-induced velocity space diffusion caused by ion cyclotron resonance heating. The approach provides a transition between previously unrelated results based either on assumptions of strong or weak anisotropy. The analysis gives a good physical picture of the transition between the almost isotropic low energy part of the r.f distorted ion distribution and the anisotropic high energy tail. The present result should prove particularly useful in the evaluation of velocity space averages, e.g., power transfer to background plasma particles and fusion reactivity.