Up and down shift effect in multidimensional implementation of FEM in full wave codes for ICRH

Abstract Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) plays a crucial role in magnetic confinement nuclear fusion, enhancing plasma temperature and enabling sustained fusion reactions. Full wave simulations in the ion cyclotron range of frequency are essential for exploring heating mechanisms and guiding experiments. This paper focuses on the development and application of a finite element method (FEM) based full wave simulation code, INTFLUK, which incorporates the poloidal magnetic field to account for the up and down shift effect of the parallel wave number. The code’s superiority lies in its ability to handle complex antenna structures and irregular boundaries, saving computational resources and reducing calculation time. The paper presents the physical model of INTFLUK, including the poloidal magnetic field, and demonstrates its application through tests on the EAST and China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor tokamak. The results show that INTFLUK effectively captures the up–down asymmetry of the electric field and the mode conversion between fast waves and slow ion cyclotron waves. Comparisons with the TORIC code validate the accuracy of INTFLUK in simulating these effects, with integral power partition errors less than 10%. The findings highlight the importance of considering the poloidal magnetic field and spatial dispersion effects in FEM based full wave simulation code for ICRH, advancing the understanding and application of ICRH in fusion research.