Radiofrequency plasma heating and current drive

The mechanisms underlying radiofrequency plasma heating and current drive in closed configurations are considered together with the theoretical tools describing them, with just a brief mention of the actual experiments. The heating schemes of interest for thermonuclear devices span a wide range of frequencies form the Alfven wave resonance to the ion-cyclotron, lower hybrid and electron-cyclotron resonances. Heating at frequencies below the Alfven wave resonance (magnetic pumping in its numerous versions), which is of limited thermonuclear relevance, is presented for its fundamental aspects - more than any other heating scheme it involves properties of particle motion in the large which are specific to the magnetic traps - in order to provide a broader and more integrated view of the whole subject. (orig./AH)