TORBEAM, a beam tracing code for electron-cyclotron waves in tokamak plasmas (Q5938240)

Using the beam tracing technique, the authors describe the propagation and absorption of Gaussian wave beams with frequencies in the electron-cyclotron frequency range in a fusion plasma. Maxwell's equations are reduced to a set of first-order ordinary differential equations, allowing for a simple description of diffraction effects. This description uses trajectory of beam axis, the evolution of the wave front, the width of field profile, and the absorption of wave energy by the plasma. A Fortran code is used for the solution of the beam tracing problem in tokamak geometry for arbitrary launching conditions and for prescribed magnetic equilibria. The wave propogation and current profiles are computed and compared with those obtained by the ray tracing technique.