On a new mechanism of excitation of the absolute parametric decay instability of an electromagnetic wave in experiments on electron cyclotron resonance heating in toroidal devices

Experimental conditions under which the low-threshold absolute parametric decay instability of an electromagnetic wave with extraordinary polarization at the electron cyclotron resonance heating of a plasma at the second harmonic resonance in toroidal devices are analyzed. A new mechanism is proposed for the localization of a daughter electrostatic wave in the toroidal direction in the region of a high-power pump beam. This mechanism, along with the two-dimensional localization of the daughter wave because of a nonmonotonic radial profile of the plasma density and the poloidal inhomogeneity of the magnetic field, can be responsible for the parametric excitation of a three-dimensional cavity for this wave and, as a result, low-threshold absolute decay instability of the pump wave.     

Parametric Instability of Surface Waves on the Second Harmonic of Electron Cyclotron Frequency in a Plasma Layer

The parametric instability of surface waves on the second harmonic of electron cyclotron frequency (SWCF) in a plasma filled dielectric wave guide is examined in a kinetic approximation. The studied surface waves are extraordinary polarized modes and propagate across the external steady magnetic field. The amplitude of the electrical pump wave is assumed to be small. Simple expressions for increments of the parametric instability of the SWCF are calculated. The otained results can be used in controlled fusion researches in order to avoid undesirable regimes of plasma periphery heating in that fusion devices which use the resonance electron cyclotron heating method.     

On the low-threshold parametric mechanism of the anomalous power absorption in electron cyclotron resonance heating experiments in toroidal devices

The experimental conditions that facilitate the excitation of parametric decay instabilities upon the electron cyclotron resonance heating of a plasma at the second harmonic extraordinary wave in tokamaks and stellarators and, as a result, make anomalous absorption of microwave power possible have been analyzed. It has been shown that, in the case of a nonmonotonic radial profile of the plasma density, when the beam of electron cyclotron waves passes near the equatorial plane of a toroidal device, the parametric excitation of electron Bernstein waves, as well as the generation of ion Bernstein waves propagating from the parametric decay region to the nearest ion cyclotron harmonic, where they efficiently interact with ions, is possible. The proposed theoretical model can explain the anomalous generation of accelerated ions observed upon electron cyclotron heating in small and moderate toroidal facilities.     

Attenuation properties of EM wave by magnetized nonuniform plasma slab coated on perfect conductor plane

The total amplitude reflection coefficient of EM wave in a nonuniform plasma slab coated on perfect conductor plane is newly derived by using the scattering matrix method (SMM), and the attenuation is calculated. Three types of plasma electron density profile, that is the hyperbolic, sinusoidal, and linear profiles, are used. The external magnetic field and plasma parameters such as the maximum electron density and collision frequencies are discussed to calculate the attenuation of EM wave. The calculation results show that the plasma electron density profile and maximum electron density exert a large effect to the attenuation of EM wave and the attenuation under the uniform external magnetic field is taken place by the electron cyclotron resonance absorption, the up hybrid resonance absorption and geometric resonances absorption.     

Electrostatic Waves in the Warm Magnetoplasma at the Cyclotron Harmonic Frequencies

Mode conversion and collisionless absorption of electromagnetic wave at the cyclotron harmonic frequencies in an inhomogeneous non-Maxwellian magnetoplasma have been studied. Under suitable energy transfer condition the converted electrostatic wave (plasma wave) either grows or damps. The expressions for the growth/damping rates of this wave have been derived and studied at the cyclotron harmonic frequencies. The effect of the temperature anisotropy on the growth/damping rate of the electrostatic wave at the second cyclotron harmonic frequency has been shown. Growth of such electrostatic waves at ionospheric heights may explain the observed upper hybrid resonance (UHR) echoes and noise bands at the second cyclotron harmonic frequency.     

Wave Trajectory and Electron Cyclotron Heating in Tokamak Plasmas

Wave trajectories in high density tokamak plasmas are studied numerically. Results show that the ordinary wave injected at an appropriate incident angle can propagate into the dense plasmas and is mode-converted to the extraordinary wave at the plasma cutoff, is further converted to the electron Bernstein wave during passing a loop or a folded curve near the upper hybrid resonance (UHR) layer, and is cyclotron damped away, resulting in local electron heating before arriving at the cyclotron resonance layer. Similar trajectory and damping are obtained when a microwave in a form of extraordinary wave is injected quasi-perpendicularly in the direction of decreasing toroidal field.     

Ionospheric modification at twice the electron cyclotron frequency

In 2004, a new transmission band was added to the HAARP high-frequency ionospheric modification facility that encompasses the second electron cyclotron harmonic at altitudes between approximately 220 and 330 km. Initial observations indicate that greatly enhanced airglow occurs whenever the transmission frequency approximately matches the second electron cyclotron harmonic at the height of the upper hybrid resonance. This is the reverse of what happens at higher electron cyclotron harmonics. The measured optical emissions confirm the presence of accelerated electrons in the plasma.     

Interaction between plasma and electromagnetic field in ion source of 10 cm ECR ion thruster

Through diagnosing the plasma density and calculating the intensity of microwave electric field, four 10 cm electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion sources with different magnetic field structures are studied to reveal the inside interaction between the plasma, magnetic field and microwave electric field. From the diagnosing result it can be found that the plasma density distribution is controlled by the plasma generation and electron loss volumes associated with the magnetic field and microwave power level. Based on the cold plasma hypothesis and diagnosing result, the microwave electric field intensity distribution in the plasma is calculated. The result shows that the plasma will significantly change the distribution of the microwave electric field intensity to form a bow shape. From the boundary region of the shape to the center, the electric field intensity varies from higher to lower and the diagnosed density inversely changes. If the bow and its inside lower electric field intensity region are close to the screen grid, the performance of ion beam extracting will be better. The study can provide useful information for the creating of 10 cm ECR ion source and understanding its mechanism.     

Spatial Investigations of Point-Radiated Fields above the Electron Cyclotron Frequency in an Inhomogeneous Magnetized Plasma

Spatial behaviors of mode-converted electron Bernstein waves at the upper hybrid layer in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma are investigated experimentally and theoretically when the radiated source is located outside the upper hybrid layer. The theoretical spatial field patterns in two dimensions which include the mode-converted cyclotron harmonic wave radiated from a point source are found to be in near accord with the experimental results.     

Low-threshold absolute parametric decay instabilities in experiments on electron cyclotron resonance heating in tokamaks

We have analyzed experimental conditions for the excitation of absolute parametric decay instabilities accompanying the electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) of plasma at the second harmonic of resonance in tokamaks. It has been shown that, in the case of a nonmonotonic radial profile of the plasma density, when a heating beam passes near the equatorial plane of a tokamak, the parametric excitation of resonances of ion Bernstein waves accompanied by the generation of the backscattered microwave radiation can occur. The threshold of absolute instability thus developed is determined by the dissipation of an ion Bernstein wave and can be exceeded in current experiments on the ECRH of a plasma in tokamaks.     

Resonant third harmonic generation of a short pulse laser in plasma by applying a wiggler magnetic field

We examine the effect of wiggler magnetic field on pulse slippage of short pulse laser-induced third harmonic generation in plasma. The process of third harmonic generation of an intense short pulse laser in plasma is resonantly enhanced by the application of a magnetic wiggler. The laser exerts a ponderomotive force at second harmonic driving density oscillations. The second harmonic oscillations coupled with electron velocity at the laser frequency, produces a non-linear current, driving the third harmonic. Third harmonic pulse generates in the fundamental pulse domain. However, the group velocity of the third harmonic wave is greater than the fundamental wave. Hence, the third harmonic pulse saturates strongly and moves forward from the fundamental pulse at shorter distance than the second harmonic pulse.     

基于开口环阵列结构的表面晶格共振产生及二次谐波增强

理论研究了二维周期排列的金开口环谐振器的磁共振模式与周期阵列的衍射模式发生强耦合所需满足的条件及其对二次谐波产生效率的影响.通过控制阵列结构在x和y方向的周期大小,使得衍射模式只在其中一个方向产生,当衍射模式的电场方向与入射光电场偏振方向一致时,衍射模式才会与开口环谐振器的磁共振模式发生强耦合作用,产生表面晶格共振进而实现近场场增强.在此基础上,进一步计算了金开口环谐振器阵列的二次谐波产生效率,随着阵列周期逐渐增大,即开口环谐振器的数密度减小,二次谐波强度呈现先增加后降低的趋势,当开口环谐振器数密度降为原来的1/4左右时,二次谐波强度可以增强2倍以上.本文的研究为金属超表面二次谐波产生效率的提高提供了一种新的可能途径.     

Mikrowellenabsorption in der Nähe der 2. Harmonischen der Elektronenzyklotronfrequenz

In plasmas produced by microwave power the electron density displays a dependence on the magnetic field strength obviously asymmetric with respect to the harmonics of the electron cyclotron frequency. In regions of the magnetic field strength just above the harmonics there are extremely high values of electron density, the density values dropping sharply off towards the other wing of the harmonics. Absorption experiments near the second harmonic at low microwave power — the plasma being produced by different means — reveal a resonant absorption structure in the magnetic field region above the harmonic. This can be attributed to excitation of geometrical eigenmodes of electrostatic. waves propagating perpendicular to the magnetic field (Bernstein waves).     

CT-6B托卡马克微波预电离实验

用迴旋管产生的大功率微波在电子迴旋频率的基频及二次谐波频率进行了托卡马克放电的预电离实验。实验证明,这种预电离方法比一般的预电离方法的击穿气压低,击穿电压及放电初期所耗费的变压器磁通也低得多。基频共振较二次谐波共振的效果好。 关键词：     

外加磁场微波等离子体喷流对平面电磁波衰减的实验研究

采用空间透射波测量方法,实验研究透波密闭石英玻璃容器内等离子体喷流对垂直和水平极化电磁波的衰减,在有和无外加磁场条件下分析实验参数对等离子吸波效应的影响,分析等离子体的吸波机理.实验结果表明在非磁和本实验条件下,平面电磁波在等离子体中的衰减机理为碰撞吸收;在有磁和本实验条件下,平面电磁波在磁等离子体中的衰减机理同样为碰撞吸收,但是外加磁场的存在有限地改善了等离子体的吸波效应.为了使磁等离子体最有效地吸收电磁波,应该提高磁场感应强度,把高频混杂频率提高到测试微波频率范围内,或降低微波测试频率至本实验中的高混 关键词： 等离子体相互作用 电磁波 电磁波在等离子体中的传输     

Low-threshold parametric decay instabilities in the experiments on the electron cyclotron resonance heating in tokamaks and stellarators

The experimental conditions have been analyzed for a significant reduction of the threshold of the reflective parametric decay instabilities under electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) of a plasma in magnetic devices in the absence of the upper hybrid resonance for the pump wave. The role of the nonmonotonic profile of the plasma density near the O point of the magnetic island, which allows for the localization of ion Bernstein waves in the direction of the density gradient and the suppression of convective losses from the decay region has been discussed. It has been shown that the threshold of the instability of the induced backscattering near the local maximum of the density profile is decreased by four orders of magnitude and is easily exceeded in present-day ECRH experiments at a power of several hundred kilowatts.     

Parametric Mechanism of Anomalous Microwave Power Absorption in Experiments on Electron Cyclotron Heating in Toroidal Magnetic Traps

The nonlinear stage of the parametric decay instability of an extraordinary wave is analyzed in the presence of a nonmonotonic density profile. The decay excites an electron Bernstein wave, which is localized in the vicinity of a local density maximum, and an ion Bernstein wave, which leaves a nonlinear interaction region and is absorbed by ions in the vicinity of the harmonics of the ion cyclotron frequency. The main mechanism of instability saturation is considered to be a cascade of decays of a primary daughter electron Bernstein wave, which leads to the excitation of localized secondary electron Bernstein waves and ion cyclotron (Bernstein) waves. The localization of electron Bernstein waves causes a significant decrease in the secondary- decay excitation threshold, which is thought to provide saturation of the primary instability at the lowest level. The saturation of the primary parametric decay instability of a pump wave and the anomalous absorption of the pump power are analytically estimated. A numerical simulation is performed using the parameters that are typical of the experiments on the electron cyclotron resonance heating of plasma at the second resonance harmonic in TCV tokamak.     

Observation of Localized Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating in a Magnetic Mirror

A right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) electron cyclotron wave is launched along the axis of a steady-state magnetically confined plasma column. Detailed measurements of the spatial variation of electron temperature, density, plasma potential, and wave amplitude about the resonance zone are presented. In particular, data are presented where the temperature increase due to electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) is strongly localized near the resonance position. A numerical wave heating model has been developed for electrons in a magnetic mirror and is found to be in qualitative agreement with observations.     

电子迴旋激射不稳定性

本文分析了下述情况下的电子迴旋波的激射不稳定性:当相对性的单能高能电子斜向注入具有背景等离子体的磁场区域内,并且在电子等离子体频率与电子迴旋频率可以比拟时,考虑了背景等离子体密度远大于单能的高能电子的密度,以及与前者相反的两种情况。当单能的高能电子具有弱相对论性效应时,在电子迴旋频率的基频和二次谐波附近,分别有ο模和χ模的不稳定性存在。文中计算了这两种模的增长率,并作了讨论。 关键词：     

Doppler-shifted cyclotron absorption of electron Bernstein waves via N( parallel)-upshift in a Tokamak plasma

Extraordinary (X) waves are perpendicularly injected for electron Bernstein (B) wave heating into an Ohmically heated plasma from the inboard side in the WT-3 tokamak. Measurements show that absorption does not take place at the electron cyclotron resonance layer nor the upper hybrid resonance layer, but does happen midway between them. This is consistent with the ray tracing prediction, i.e., the poloidal field and poloidal inhomogeneity of toroidal field lead the B waves to have a large parallel refractive index N( parallel) (>1), and the B waves are damped away via the Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonance.