Ecrh Engineering

Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) and Current Drive (ECCD) systems in use at nowadays plasma experiments consist of mmw (millimeter wave) sources having a unit power of at least 200 kW and a frequency of 60 GHz or higher. Each of the sources is connected to the plasma by means of a transmission line. The most important technical advantages of ECRH above other heating methods are the absence of antenna structures near the plasma boundary, the high power density and the possibility of very localized power deposition. Many changes occurred the last few years in ECRH systems regarding both sources and transmission line systems.