Modeling of alpha-particle interaction with RF in ITER using MCGO-TORIC codes

A possibility of parasitic absorption of RF power by fusion-born alphas in ITER is explored with the Monte-Carlo Fokker-Planck code MCGO [1] coupled to the full-wave code TORIC. The frequency range of ICRH scenarios is close to the 1^st-2^nd harmonic of tritium, and to the 1^st harmonic of deuterium (or He-4). Therefore, alphas can intercept a considerable amount of RF power. The MCGO code is perfectly suitable for this task as it includes the source of alpha-particles and RF kick operator with all components of RF field and finite Larmor radius terms. In addition, neoclassical effects from alphas are discussed (e.g., bootstrap current), as a consequence of their collisional velocity/radial transport, which is also affected by the RF heating.

[1] www.compxco.com/mcgo.html