The optimisation of the STEP electron cyclotron current drive concept

Abstract A fusion reactor based on the spherical tokamak is very likely to be completely non-inductive for the majority of the plasma ramp-up and steady-state phases, due to the limitations imposed on the central coil assemblies by the compact design. Efficiency gains from solenoid-driven current cannot be relied upon. It is also critical that an electricity-producing plant maximises the wall-plug efficiency of its heating and current drive (HCD) system, this being one of the largest consumers of recirculating power. It is therefore essential that the HCD system is well-optimised for current drive efficiency in order to meet the goal of net electricity production. The UK’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) reactor design program has recently taken the decision to use exclusively microwave-based heating and current drive actuators for its reactor concepts. We present the optimisation of an electron cyclotron current drive scheme for a spherical tokamak reactor, based around the STEP concept, arriving at a solution which overcomes the limitations imposed by the spherical tokamak geometry in terms of microwave access and high trapped particle fraction. The solution uses high-field side absorption and a mix of fundamental and 2nd harmonic O mode, with overall power requirements reducing with increasing number of frequencies used. An additional fundamental frequency is also added to further boost the efficiency during non-inductive plasma ramp.