Theory of the ICR heating of a plasma column: Methodological note

A set of wave equations is derived that describes electromagnetic waves at frequencies on the order of the ion gyrofrequency in a plasma column with an arbitrary electron temperature. This set takes into account, in particular, the resonant interaction of electrons with waves in the transit-time magnetic pumping regime. The effect of the amplification of the electromagnetic fields of current-carrying antennas by the plasma is analyzed. The evolution of the fields with an increase of plasma density from a zero value (vacuum) is considered. The main parameters are determined for minority ion cyclotron resonance heating in the planned EPSILON system