Effects of electron trapping and transport on electron cyclotron current drive on DIII-D

Recent experiments on the DIII-D tokamak have focused on determining the effect of trapped particles on the electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) efficiency. The experimental ECCD efficiency increases as the deposition location is moved towards the inboard midplane or towards smaller minor radius for both co- and counter-injection; the ECCD efficiency also increases with increasing electron density and/or temperature. The experimental ECCD is compared to both the linear theory (TORAY-GA) as well as a quasilinear Fokker-Planck model (CQL3D) and is found to be in better agreement with the more complete Fokker-Planck calculation, especially when the rf power density and/or loop voltage exceed criterion for substantial nonlinear modification of the electron distribution function. The width of the measured ECCD profile is consistent with the theoretically expected width in the absence of radial transport for the current carrying electrons. (author)