Numerical simulations of the anomalous Doppler resonance using pic code vorpal

Summary form only given. The anomalous Doppler resonance is an instability that occurs due to coupling between a negative harmonic of the electron cyclotron frequency and an electromagnetic wave, as such this regime is only applicable in slow-wave media. ^[1] In nuclear fusion devices the generation of fast electrons by Lower Hybrid Current Drive ^[2], or in extreme cases Dreicer acceleration ^[3], can lead to the criterion for the anomalous Doppler resonance being fulfilled. Simulations have been developed to study non-thermal electrons drifting at relativistic velocities ( up to 0.5c) along a magnetic field (0.1-2T) with a background plasma (1x10¹⁰ cm³) acting as the slow-wave media The simulations will be used to inform the design of a scaled laboratory experiment at Strathclyde, the results of which will be used to compare with the prediction of the numerical simulations analytical theory. Once benchmarked by the experiment simulations will investigate regimes relevant to tokamak plasmas.