Scattering of radio frequency waves by density filaments

Abstract

An abbreviated review of recent studies on the scattering of radio frequency waves by plasma turbulence is presented. The plasma turbulence occurs in the scrape-off layer and in the edge region of magnetically confined fusion plasmas. Radio frequency waves are used for delivering energy and momentum to the core plasma. As the waves propagate through a turbulent plasma, their propagation characteristics are affected. The studies reported in this paper are on the various changes that occur due to turbulence.

Keywords:

• Wave scattering
• radio frequency waves
• plasma physics
• propagation through turbulence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

AKR is supported by U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) [grant numbers DE-FG02-91ER-54109 and DE-SC0018090].

Notes on contributors

Abhay K. Ram

Abhay K. Ram is presently a Principal Research Scientist with the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and with Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from MIT. He is a theoretical plasma physicist with research interests spanning a broad range of topics in laboratory and space plasma physics, and controlled thermonuclear fusion.

K. Hizanidis

K. Hizanidis graduated with an MsEng in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. He graduated from the Department of Nuclear Engineering, MIT. He was a post-doctoral researcher at the Plasma Fusion Center, MIT. From 1987 until retirement in 2019, he was a Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at NTUA. His interests are in fusion plasmas, nonlinear photonics, and dynamical systems.

F. Bairaktaris

F. Bairaktaris is presently a post-doctoral researcher in NTUA. He graduated from National Kapodistrian of Athens (NKUA), Greece, Department of Physics with a Master of Science in Astrophysics, Astronomy, and Engineering. His PhD from NTUA was on topics related to homogenization of tokamak plasmas in the scrape-off layer, His research interests include mathematical formalisms in theoretical plasma physics and machine learning for tokamak data analysis.

A. Papadopoulos

A. Papadopoulos is presently a Senior Research Scientist at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA. He graduated with a BS in Physics from NKUA, an MSc in Physics from the Univerity of Florida, Gainesville, USA, an MSc in Electrical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, and with a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from NTUA. He is a member of IEEE, Senior Member of OSA, and a member of EURO Fusion. He is interested in computations pertaining to electromagnetic wave propagation, and machine learning methods with applications to fusion plasma physics, and optics.

S.-I. Valvis

S.-I. Valvis is presently a post-doctoral researcher at NTUA. He graduated with a BSc from the Physics Department at NKUA, an MSc in Electronics and Radioelectrology at NKUA, and a PhD from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA. He is a theoretical physicist with research interests in thermonuclear fusion, particularly topics related to the propagation and scattering of electromagnetic waves.