Numerical Computation of Wave-Plasma Interactions in Multi-dimensional Systems

The goal of this research is to use advanced terascale computing to obtain quantitatively accurate predictive understanding of electromagnetic wave processes, which support important heating, current drive, and stability and transport applications in fusion-relevant plasmas. The project will focus on increasing the speed and efficiency of two dimensional wave solvers as well as obtaining a fully three-dimensional solution to the integral wave equation. This will allow computational studies of wave-plasma interactions in non-axisymmetric configurations. The goals of the research involve answering the following questions: To what extent do realistic 2D and 3D equilibrium variations modify the local deposition of wave energy and momentum in the plasma? To what extent do non-Maxwellian particle velocity space distributions modify local deposition of wave energy and momentum in the plasma? What is the mechanism by which lower hybrid waves, launched with a phase velocity several times the electron thermal speed, are able to couple strongly to electrons and drive substantial currents? What is the effect of global plasma modes on the wave fields produced by launching structures?

Institutions Involved

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Lodestar Corporation
• CompX Corporation

Principal Investigator

Project Home Page

Reports

Fusion: Using Electromagnetic Wave Conversions to Control Fusion Plasmas, article in Issue 1 of SciDAC Review