Abstract
The first demonstration of electron-Bernstein-wave heating by double-mode conversion from the to the mode in an overdense -mode tokamak plasma has been achieved in the Tokamak à Configuration Variable device. This technique overcomes the upper density limit experienced by conventional microwave heating. The sensitive dependence of the mode conversion on the microwave launching direction has been verified experimentally, and localized power deposition consistent with theoretical predictions has been observed at densities well above the conventional cutoff.
- Received 7 August 2006
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.175004
©2007 American Physical Society