Radio Frequency Current Drive in Fusioning Plasma

摘要

A method for driving current in a fusioning plasma is proposed. Radio frequency power is used to prohibit the fusion-produced alpha -particles from slowing down isotropically, or to push the alpha -particles in a preferential direction and thus form an alpha -particle beam. As a result, a net plasma current (Ohkawa current) may be generated if the fuel ions have Z not equal to 2. The power requirement is estimated and the efficiency is found to be comparable to beam and other rf current-drive schemes. Since the alpha -particles are born in the central hot core of the reactor, the current profile is naturally peaked in the center. (ERA citation 06:017761)