The effect of minority heating on the electron temperature profile recovery using ICRH for future real-time control applications in tokamak plasmas

Real-time control using Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) has been proposed in JET operational scenarios to counteract temperature hollowing effects. Specifically, in cases of hollow electron temperature profiles, central ion cyclotron resonance heating could be employed to restore temperature peaking based on real-time Electron Cyclotron Emission (ECE) data. ICRH has been utilized to optimize the plasma ramp-down process, correcting the discharge’s end and preventing plasma disruption. Before designing the real-time controller, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the ability of the ICRH to recover the temperature profile by depositing the power emitted in the desired way. For this purpose, the presented work conducted simulations of a JET discharge to evaluate power deposition using a full wave code (TORIC). To quantify the power transferred from hydrogen ions to electrons, a quasi-linear analysis was conducted. The effects of ICRH application on the power balance were assessed through predictive transport analysis using the JINTRAC suite of codes. The integrated study’s findings demonstrate the potential of utilizing ICRH alongside ECE measurements for real-time control of the electron temperature profile, offering valuable insights for future plasma control strategies and advanced tokamak operation.