Power deposition of electron cyclotron waves in low dissipative weakly relativistic thermal plasma

In this paper ray tracing of electron cyclotron (EC) waves in a low dissipative weakly relativistic thermal plasma is investigated. Higher electron temperature (thermal effect) produces spreading of the power deposition profiles and increasing of maximal values, while greater angle (relativistic effect) produces larger losses of symmetry of the power deposition profiles. Maximal values of the power deposition profiles for the same electron temperature are larger for greater launched angle. Also, the maximal values are shifted on the high-magnetic-field side from the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) in either case, as a result of increasing of electron temperature and of the angle. In the paper the presented results of power deposition profiles may have important implications on the electron cyclotron plasma heating in tokamak plasma