Kinetic Simulations of EC Plasma Heating and Current Drive in the L-2M Stellarator

The ECHLAB code, intended for a self-consistent numerical analysis of the evolution of the electron distribution function and the spatial structure of the electromagnetic field during EC plasma heating in a stellarator, is described. The results from calculations of plasma heating and current drive under conditions corresponding to experiments on EC plasma heating by an X2-mode in the L-2M stellarator are presented. It is shown that, at the existing level of microwave power, the energy deposition region displaces only slightly during heating. The energy is mainly absorbed by relatively fast passing electrons. The influence of locally trapped electrons on the efficiency of current drive is insignificant.