The focus of our work is the development of diamond windows and antennas for electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) systems for current drive and stabilization of fusion plasmas. The developments include both broadband and fixed frequency systems for ITER (in collaboration with F4E), DEMO (EUROFusion), gyrotron development and other fusion experiments.

Forschungsteam führen Test durch

One of the main advantages of the ECRH is the frequency used, typically between 100 and over 200 GHz, which allows the power coupled into the plasma to be focused locally to just a few centimetres. In addition to plasma heating, magnetic islands (neoclassical shear modes), which can otherwise lead to a breakdown of the plasma confinement, can be suppressed by locally injecting millimeter waves into the plasma.

Spherical and hemispherical resonators can be used to examine and qualify dielectrics for transmission losses. In the case of diamond disks, transmission losses of up to tan δ ≈ 10-⁶ can be determined.

Further applications for plasma diagnostics and sensors are also being driven forward.

Dr. Dirk Strauß
Group Manager High Frequency Materials

+49 721 608-22042
dirk.strauss@kit edu

Prof. Dr. Theo Scherer
Deputy Group Leader

+49 721 608-23964
theo.scherer@ kit.edu