Lower Hybrid antennas for nuclear fusion experiments

TL;DR

This paper reviews the technological aspects of Lower Hybrid antennas used in tokamaks and presents a design for a 20 MW system for ITER to sustain high-temperature plasmas for nuclear fusion.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of LH antenna technology and introduces a new high-power design for fusion experiments like ITER.

Findings

Review of LH antenna technology in Tore Supra

Design proposal for 20 MW LH system for ITER

Insights into high-power RF antenna development

Abstract

The nuclear fusion research goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power for peaceful purposes. In order to achieve the conditions similar to those expected in an electricity-generating fusion power plant, plasmas with a temperature of several hundreds of millions of degrees must be generated and sustained for long periods. For this purpose, RF antennas delivering multi-megawatts of power to magnetized confined plasma are commonly used in experimental tokamaks. In the gigahertz range of frequencies, high power phased arrays known as "Lower Hybrid" (LH) antennas are used to extend the plasma duration. This paper reviews some of the technological aspects of the LH antennas used in the Tore Supra tokamak and presents the current design of a proposed 20 MW LH system for the international experiment ITER.