Exploitation of the ICRF antenna on the stellarator W7-X

Thermonuclear fusion is a promising option for a sustainable, non-polluting, and economically viable form of energy production. To achieve fusion, a mixture of Deuterium and Tritium has to be heated to at least 100 million degrees so that the fusion reactions can take place, and net energy is produced. An important method to obtain these high temperatures is to emit radiofrequency (RF) waves in these machines at frequencies that are equal to or a multiple of the frequency of the ions confined in the magnetic field of the fusion machine (the so-called ion cyclotron frequency). Under such conditions an efficient energy transfer from the waves to the ions is possible, resulting in heating of the plasma . This technique, ICRH or Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating, is the specialty of the LPP-ERM/KMS. The work of the LPP-ERM/KMS includes the design and the development of heating systems exploiting the technique of ICRH: it involves 3D modelling and simulations of the antenna systems and their exploitation during experimental campaigns.

The Laboratory for Plasma Physics (LPP-ERM/KMS) of the RMA specializes in the development and the exploitation of heating systems for magnetically confined fusion machines.

The project PHYSW7X - MSP/23-03 is financed under the DFR call.