This paper discusses the extension of the ‘three-ion’ species ICRF technique for heating mixture plasmas using fast injected NBI ions as resonant ‘third’ species. In this scenario the ICRF power is absorbed by the fast beam ions in the vicinity of the mode conversion layer where the left-hand polarized RF electric field E+ is strongly enhanced. The ions in the beam velocity distribution that have a Doppler-shifted resonance close to the mode conversion layer efficiently absorb RF power and undergo acceleration. We show first experimental observations of ICRF heating of D-NBI ions in H-D plasmas in JET with the ITER-like wall. In agreement with theoretical predictions and numerical modelling, acceleration of the D-NBI ions in this D-(DNBI)-H scenario is confirmed by several fast-ion measurements. An extension of the heating scheme discussed here is acceleration of T-NBI and D-NBI ions in D-T plasmas, offering the potential to further boost the Q-value in future D-T campaigns in JET.

The support from the JET team is warmly acknowledged. This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 under grant agreement No 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission and the ITER Organization.

Peer Reviewed