Low aspect ratio tokamak startup and heating using waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies

Radio Frequency auxiliary heating for Low Aspect Ratio Tokamaks can facilitate startup and access to high energy density plasmas, reduce the demand on ohmic core volt-seconds, and provide off axis electron heating for a high βe plasma. Calculations for several waves both below and at high harmonics of the ion cyclotron frequency predict significant RF heating even at the lower electron temperatures and densities typical of startup plasmas. Real time adjustments of the antenna array phasing can track plasma start up evolution.