Laser application in the current profile control and pressure distribution in tokamaks and stellarators

Physical grounds are discussed for the laser control of the current and plasma pressure distribution profiles. The mechanism of generation is discussed of a noninductive current drive under laser irradiation of a frozen-hydrogen pellet from the plasma volume; a possibility of arrangement of the peaked profiles of the current is shown; the estimates of the bootstrap current are made. It is noted that by using the laser methods, one can excite, among the others, the local currents with the reverse charge motion in respect to the initial ohmic current. One can, thus, provide the optimal current distributions, from the viewpoint of the magnetic plasma confinement, and hence, the profiles of the stability safety coefficient, and the value and sign of `shearʹ). The pressure (density) distribution is controlled by a time-programmed laser pulse irradiation of a moving pellet.