Scattering of mm-waves by edge density fluctuations

Forecasting mm-wave Gaussian-beam propagation in magnetically confined fusion devices is of prime importance for fusion energy development since electromagnetic waves in the electron cyclotron (EC) range are used for localized heating and/or current drive at very specific locations within the plasma cross-section. Turbulence at the plasma edge in the path of the Gaussian-beam to its target region is characterized by large density fluctuations and field-aligned structures, known as blobs. These are expected to scatter the beam by refraction or diffraction, resulting in its spreading in the configuration space. The TORPEX device is used to perform basic physics investigation of the scattering of mm-waves by density fluctuations. TORPEX is also used for developing analysis techniques and code benchmarking.