Off-midplane launch of electron Bernstein waves for current drive in overdense plasmas

Numerical modeling shows that localized, efficient current drive is possible in overdense toroidal plasmas (such as reversed field pinches and spherical tokamaks) using perpendicular launch of electron Bernstein waves. The wave directionality required for driving current can be obtained by launching the waves above or below the midplane of the torus and is a geometric effect related to the poloidal magnetic field. Wave absorption is strong, a result of the electrostatic nature of the waves, giving efficient suprathermal tail formation and current drive.