Low Threshold Parametric Decay Instabilities in ECRH experiments at toroidal devices

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how plasma density variations and magnetic field inhomogeneities in toroidal devices lower the threshold for parametric decay instabilities in ECRH experiments, affecting wave stability.

Contribution

It identifies key plasma conditions that reduce the decay instability threshold and calculates the associated wave gain and pump power thresholds.

Findings

Density-pump-out effect lowers decay instability threshold.

Magnetic islands and inhomogeneities localize ion Bernstein waves.

Easy excitation of backscattering decay instability can occur.

Abstract

The experimental conditions leading to substantial reduction of backscattering decay instability threshold in ECRH experiments in toroidal devices are analyzed. It is shown that drastic decrease of threshold is provided by non monotonic behaviour of plasma density, which is often observed due to so-called density-pump-out effect or presence of magnetic islands, and by poloidal magnetic field inhomogeniety making possible localization of ion Bernstein decay waves. The corresponding ion Bernstein wave gain and the parametric decay instability pump power threshold is calculated. The possible experimental consequences of easy backscattering decay instability excitation are discussed.