ELECTRON CYCLOTRON HEATING AND PREIONIZATION EXPERIMENTS USING NRL 35 GHz GYROTRONS.

Abstract Research on the use of gyrotrons for electron cyclotron heating and preionization in Tokamaks is described. The program consists of research and development on gyrotrons, and their use in ECH experiments. Recently, experiments using an 100 kW, 20 ms, TE 01 gyroton were completed on the ISX-B Tokamak at ORNL. We summarize the results of these, in which 60% absorption, resulting in a 50% rise in the electron temperature, was achieved. Currently, ECH experiments on the Versator-II Tokamak at MIT are being performed. These experiments are aimed toward a detailed examination of the physics of ECH, including the effects of polarization and injection angle. Plans for and results from this effort, as well as those for a highly efficient, 35 GHz, 300 kW gyrotron to be used in these experiments will be presented.