Introduction
The European Fusion Development Agency (EFDA), in the strive to develop the first international reactor-tokamak experiment (ITER) of controlled fusion energy production is placing a large number of active (i.e. financially supported) scientific and technical study contracts to the Associated Laboratories within Europe. A specific very important subject concerns the auxiliary plasma heating system based on the injection of high power millimiter waves resonantly absorbed at the electron cyclotron frequency by the tokamak plasma. The sophisticated physical mechanisms to be exploited are tightly linked to equally challenging high technology problems in the field of design and construction of Radiowave high power launching antennae, systems, transmission lines, auxiliary apparatus and power sources. The design of the actual apparatus requires high level specialized theoretical calculations of wave-beam optics in plasma as well as in vacuum.
Context of research
A share of the design work necessary to develop a feasible launching antenna system for EC waves on ITER has been given to IFP that must develop under as contracts the wave-beam propagation and absorption calculations, in the assigned ITER plasma configuration, to define the steering range and optimize the technical design of the launching mirrors. The expertise of IFP scientific staff in theoretical and applied physics of waves in plasma and in the development of the numerical codes necessary for the subject has allowed significant progress in the task and a relevant role of the staff in the international study group.
Another ITER contract has been placed with IFP to develop a prototype of suitable RF power load that is an indispensable auxiliary apparatus for high power RF plant. Based on previous models developed by IFP for the FTU plant the apparatus has been fully designed and built, transferring to external small workshops the high-tech. know-how, concerning fabrication techniques and quality assurance methods .
Applications of the research activity.
The results of this scientific activity find recognition in a wide international context of high level applications, but could also stimulate a domestic interest in mm waves science and technology.
Next step
Within the European EFDA activity the competence in the field of electron cyclotron-waves phenomena will keep a major role up to and beyond the Fusion reactor experiment. Therefore IFP will continue to increase its competence and compete for contracts of this kind for ITER and other plants if the necessary human and technical resources are available . Within the national program a significant contribution that IFP could give consists in contributing to an upgrade of the ECRH plant of FTU(ENEA) to the requirements of a test - bed for ITER.
Financial support
During 2003 the total running cost of IFP scientific activity have been supported 75% by Euratom within the frame of the Euratom-ENEA-CNR Association.
Focus