| Issue |
EPJ Web Conf.
Volume 346, 2026
25th Topical Conference on Radio-Frequency Power in Plasmas (RFPPC2025)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 02022 | |
| Number of page(s) | 7 | |
| Section | Wave Heating and Current Drive in Present and Future Fusion Devices | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634602022 | |
| Published online | 07 January 2026 | |
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634602022
ECCD Studies for a Volumetric Neutron Source (VNS)
1 Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
2 EUROfusion-Consortium, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
3 Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologia dei Plasmi, CNR, 20125 Milano, Italy
4 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
* Corresponding author: emanuele.poli@ipp.mpg.de
Published online: 7 January 2026
We explore the theoretical capabilities of Electron Cyclotron Current Drive (ECCD) in a volumetric neutron source (VNS), a high-neutron-fluence tokamak for component testing and qualification that is being considered in the frame of the EUROfusion Consortium. Two selected applications are addressed, namely bulk current drive in the plasma centre and stabilization of Neoclassical Tearing Modes (NTMs). It is shown that a current drive efficiency above 50 kA/MW can be reached, close to typical values reported for DEMO central ECCD. Suppression of NTMs should require less than 10 MW, but this power might become marginal in case of significant beam broadening caused by density fluctuations. The optimum launcher parameters for the envisaged applications will be further iterated to find the sweet spot between physics and engineering constraints.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2026
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