Oscillating field current drive for reversed field pinch discharges

Abstract

Oscillating field current drive (OFCD), also known as F‐Θ pumping, is a steady‐state current drive technique proposed for the reversed field pinch (RFP). Unlike other current drive techniques, which employ high technology, invasive, and power intensive schemes using radio frequency or neutral particle injection, F‐Θ pumping entails driving the toroidal and poloidal magnetic field circuits with low‐frequency (audio) oscillating voltage sources. Current drive by this technique is a consequence of the strong nonlinear plasma coupling in the RFP. Because of its low frequency and efficient plasma coupling, F‐Θ pumping shows excellent promise as a reactor relevant current drive technique. A conceptual and computational study of this concept, including its experimental and reactor relevance, is explored in this paper.