Outline of plasma heating and current drive by high frequency

In order to realize nuclear fusion reactors, the superhigh temperature plasma that maintains nuclear fusion reaction is confined by a magnetic field and must be heated up. In this report, the tokamaks which are about to attain the critical core plasma condition are taken up as the example, and the principle and the present status of plasma heating by high frequency and plasma current drive are described. First, the plasma parameters required for nuclear fusion are considered. The condition required for high frequency heating, the physical process of high frequency heating and high frequency current drive, other application such as the control of plasma current distribution and plasma formation are explained. The present status of ion cyclotron heating, electron cyclotron heating and lower hybrid wave current drive is described. High frequency heating is required also for helical system devices and mirror devices, and has been studies. Though there is the difference due to the difference of magnetic field configuration and the difference of role, there are also many common points. Many problems to be solved exist concerning high frequency heating and current drive, and basic experiment is advanced. (Kako, I.)