Monte Carlo simulation of lower hybrid current drive in tokamaks

In this paper, we present a method for noninductive current drive studies based on three-dimensional simulation of test particle orbits. A Monte Carlo momentum diffusion operator is developed to model the wave-particle interaction. The scheme can be utilized in studies of current drive efficiency as well as in examining the current density profiles caused by waves with a finite parallel wave number spectrum and a nonuniform power deposition profile in a toroidal configuration space of arbitrary shape. Calculations performed with a uniform power deposition profile of lower hybrid waves for axisymmetric magnetic configurations having different aspect ratios and poloidal cross-section shape confirm the semianalytic estimates for the current drive efficiency based on the solutions of the flux surface averaged Fokker-Planck equation for configurations with circular poloidal cross section. The consequences of the combined effect of radial diffusion, magnetic trapping and radially nonhomogeneous power deposition and background plasma parameter profiles are investigated.< >