Design Study of a Tokamak Power Reactor with an Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating System

A detailed design is presented of a tokamak power reactor with an electron cyclotron resonance heating system. Major research topics include: physics constraints imposed on the design of a reactor by the ECR wave absorption conditions; design of the high frequency (200 GHz) gyrotrons needed for plasma heating; the gyrotron power and magnet systems; a microwave transmission system in oversize waveguide for the ECR radiation and evaluation of its losses; absorption of the ECR radiation in the plasma; and techniques for improved reactor modularization. A 100 MW gyrotron system was designed for heating a previously derived tokamak power reactor, the High Field Compact Tokamak Reactor (HFCTR). Our major conclusion is that ECR heating appears to be feasible and potentially attractive for bulk heating of a moderate size, high density tokamak power reactor. However, if ECR heating is to be a reliable method for bulk heating of plasmas, it will be necessary to have an intensive development program for both high frequency gyrotrons and for transmission systems for high power, high frequency radiation.