Radiofrequency Plasma Heating
A method of heating fusion plasma by launching high-power electromagnetic waves tuned to particle cyclotron or hybrid resonance frequencies.
Governing formula
Resonance Matching: ω_wave = ω_ce (ECRH) or ω_wave = n ω_ci (ICRH)
SI unit
MW (RF Power Input)
In depth
Megawatt RF generators launch waves via external antennas. Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH, ~170 GHz in ITER) and Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH, ~50 MHz) transfer wave energy directly into particle gyromotion.
Examples in the real world
20 MW Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECRH) gyrotron systems operating on fusion tokamaks.