Resonant coupling of ion-cyclotron waves to energetic helium ions

Abstract

First measurements were performed to test a model prediction which states that the off axis coupling of ion-cyclotron waves to energetic helium ions can generate either an inward or an outward drift of these particles. Ion-cyclotron waves with a power of up to 1 MW are coupled to energetic particles at the high field side, the low field side, or in the center by varying the toroidal magnetic field. When changing the heating power or the resonance location, the variation of the concentration of the energetic helium in the plasma agrees qualitatively with the model predictions.