Microwave radiation
Microwave radiation is used extensively in fusion reactors for plasma heating, diagnostics and current drive. Here you can learn more on how microwaves are used for these purposes. Below you can find the main topics of research in our group.
Focus of the microwave work in our group
Moving towards reactor conditions microwave power levels rise and power that is not absorbed by the plasma becomes a concern for in-vessel components and diagnostics. Metals in the vessel will absorb a fraction of the power on the surface due to finite conductivity. Ceramics, such as vacuum windows, will absorb a fraction of the power as the microwaves pass through the dielectric. This is dielectric heating caused by a finite conductivity of the dielectric and is a volume effect. In the case of diagnostics it are in particular the semiconductor detectors that are at risk of damage by high microwave power loads.The microwave work in our group addresses 3 items:
Related microwave work
In addition to the work on stray radiation we are also - by contracts and PhD work - involved in the following items:
- Design of the Collective Thomson Scattering diagnostics at ITER and at W7-X
- Microwave response of ITER vacuum windows, in particular mitigation of absorbed power and development of microwave reflective coatings
These collaborations frequently result in interesting internships and graduation projects at actual fusion experiments.