IShTAR: A test facility to study the interaction between RF wave and edge plasmas.

Area of Science:

• Plasma physics
• Fusion energy research
• Antenna-plasma interactions

Background:

• High electric fields near RF antenna launchers cause arcing and impurity release, degrading ICRF heating performance.
• Limited accessibility in large fusion experiments hinders studies of near-antenna phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the experimental setup and diagnostics of the IShTAR test facility.
• To demonstrate IShTAR's capability in studying ICRF antenna launcher phenomena relevant to fusion energy.

Main Methods:

• Development of the IShTAR test facility for improved accessibility and diagnosability.
• Detailed description of the experimental setup and diagnostic tools.

Main Results:

• The IShTAR facility provides enhanced access to the near-antenna plasma region.
• Demonstrated capability to investigate parasitic phenomena affecting ICRF heating.

Conclusions:

• The IShTAR test facility is a valuable tool for understanding and mitigating issues in ICRF heating systems.
• Improved study of near-antenna phenomena is crucial for advancing fusion energy research.