Ion cyclotron resonance frequency slow wave simulations in the Joint European Torus tokamak

The propagation and absorption of the slow waves in the plasma of the Joint European Torus (JET) tokamak have been investigated by ray tracing. The study aims to obtain a qualitative notion of the penetration into the plasma and absorption of the slow wave excited by the A2 ITER-like antenna. The slow waves are radiated by antennas in the ion cyclotron resonance frequency inverted minority heating or mode conversion heating regimes. It has been discovered that the rays propagate in the toroidal direction over a significant distance, up to 6 × 10 3 cm, from the antenna. Spreading in the peripheral plasma, mainly between the separatrix and the wall, they slowly shift in the poloidal direction and can reach the divertor region. The change in equilibrium of the JET tokamak has a strong influence on both the propagation and absorption of slow waves. Absorption of the slow waves is caused by ion–electron collisions and Landau damping. In the minority heating regimes, the slow waves are strongly damped in the cyclotron resonance of minority ions even at very low minority density.