Self-consistent calculations of parasitic ion absorption during fast wave electron current drive

Parasitic third harmonic absorption by deuterium in electron current drive scenarios is studied with the newly developed SELFO code calculating self-consistently the wave field and the deuterium distribution function including finite orbit widths and RF induced transport. Self-consistent calculations in toroidal geometry are obtained by iteratively calculating the ion distribution function with a Monte Carlo code, and the wave field with a global wave code including the dielectric tensor contribution from the calculated deuterium distribution function. The high energy tail of the deuterium is found to strongly depend on the toroidal direction of the launched wave. The fast wave electron current drive is affected by the differences in the absorption by deuterium, caused by the different tails formed, in good agreement with experiments at Tore Supra.