Evaluation of the influence of the main plasma density parameters on antenna coupling and radio frequency potentials with TOPICA code

The successful design of an ion cyclotron antenna mainly relies on the capability of accurately predicting its behavior both in terms of input parameters, and therefore power coupled to plasma, and radiated fields. All these features essentially depend on the antenna itself (its geometry, the matching and tuning systems) and, obviously, on the faced loading. In this paper a number of plasma profiles is analysed with the help of the TOPICA code, a predictive tool for the design and optimization of radio frequency (RF) launchers in front of a plasma, in order to understand which plasma parameters have the most significant influence on the coupling performances of a typical IC antenna.