Stabilization of tearing modes in tokamaks using electron cyclotron heating

Abstract

Electron cyclotron heating (ECH) is shown to be effective in suppressing low-order tearing-mode instabilities in tokamaks. Stabilization through localized changes in the plasma current profile can be effected in tens of milliseconds with realistic microwave power densities. It is reasonable to expect that this technique could prevent major disruptions in tokamaks.