Design of a New Type of Stub Tuner in ICRF Experiment

Abstract

In the Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequency (ICRF) heating experiment, impedance matching is of great practical significance, because wide variations in antenna loading are observed within the discharge, in tokamaks operating in H-mode. A sudden decrease in antenna loading accompanying the L-mode to H-mode transition typically occurs on a timescale of a few milliseconds, as does the increase in loading at the H- to L-mode transition. Therefore, it is necessary to match dynamically in the transmission line between the generator output and the antenna input connections [1]. A new type of stub tuner being developed utilizes the difference in radio-frequency wavelengths between gas and liquid due to different relative dielectric constants. The impedance matching can be adjusted in realtime in an attempt to track the variations in the antenna loading. Since there are no mechanically moving parts in the short ends of stub, the change can be more convenient and safe, moreover, it can withstand higher voltage without breakdown. This system device will be applied in the HT-7 superconductor Tokamak ICRF experiment.

System of ICR Heating of the Plasma at the TRT Tokamak

“…To isolate the HF generators from the reflected power, at JET [5] and ASDEX Upgrade [6], a system using 3 dB hybrid couplers was successfully used. Many tokamak teams have studied and implemented matching systems that can be used in real time, including the internal conjugate-T system of impedance matching at WEST [7] and for ITER-like antenna at JET [5], the external conjugate-T impdance-matching system at JET [8,9], the liquid dielectric stubs at EAST [10] and LHD [11], and the TOKAMAKS ferrite tuners at Alcator C-Mod [12,13], EAST [14], and KSTAR [15].…”