Ion Cyclotron Heating Transmission Lines

The US is responsible for 88% of the ion cyclotron transmission lines, including research and development (with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory), design, fabrication, and interfaces. The ITER Organization is responsible for installing the ion cyclotron transmission lines (12%).

The ion cyclotron system heats the ions in the plasma with a high-intensity beam of electromagnetic radiation. Generators produce high-power radio frequency waves that are carried along multiple transmission lines to antennas located in the vacuum vessel, sending the waves into the plasma. The US ion cyclotron transmission lines will provide efficient power transfer from 40–55MHz radio frequency sources to the plasma heating antennas.

The system will include coaxial transmission lines and a matching/tuning system to minimize power transfer losses. The pressurized lines can transmit up to 6 MW per line. In total, approximately 1.5 km of line connects 8 sources to 16 antenna feeds, with 14 types of transmission line and matching system components. The main interfaces include sources, launchers, buildings, port cells, and water cooling. The short coaxial line also provides secondary tritium confinement.

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