3-Dimensional density profiles in edge plasma simulations for ICRF heating

Abstract

In this paper we discuss improvements made to two codes for the simulation of ICRF waves in edge plasmas: SSWICH-SW, which self-consistently models the interplay between sheath physics and radiofrequency waves (the slow wave), and RAPLICASOL, a Finite Element solver for Maxwell's equations in the cold plasma approximation. We have extended both to be able to handle 3D plasma density profiles. A comparison between a 1D and a 3D simulation reveals that the density profile dimensionality has a relatively small effect on E|| at the aperture, but a large effect on the sheath potential at the antenna limiters