Design of the ICRH antenna for TPX

A 6-MW ion cyclotron (IC) system for the Tokamak Physics Experiment (TPX) is in the preliminary design phase. In conjunction with the 3-MW Lower Hybrid system and the 8-MW neutral beam system, the IC system will provide heating and current-drive capabilities to explore advanced tokamak physics and long-pulse (1000 s) operation. The IC launcher consists of six nickel-plated current straps arranged toroidally in pairs behind three water-cooled Faraday shields. The Faraday shields can be independently and remotely detached by cutting water lines at the back of the launcher and removing bolts at the front to free each shield. The antenna can be located at the +2 cm flux line and retracted 10 cm. Faraday shields are usually copper- or nickel-plated stainless steel or inconel. Titanium is the preferred material to minimize activation without greatly decreasing electrical resistivity and therefore increasing disruption loads. The IC antenna research and development programs have provided data that confirm the feasibility of B₄C-coated nickel-plated titanium alloy in the TPX environment