Townsend Avalanche Breakdown Assisted by Radio Frequency Wave in Tokamaks

Makoto HASEGAWA; Kazuaki HANADA; Kohnosuke SATO; Kazuo NAKAMURA; Hideki ZUSHI; Mizuki SAKAMOTO; Hiroshi IDEI; Shoji KAWASAKI; Hisatoshi NAKASHIMA; Aki HIGASHIJIMA

doi:10.1585/pfr.2.007

Rapid Communications

Townsend Avalanche Breakdown Assisted by Radio Frequency Wave in Tokamaks

Makoto HASEGAWA, Kazuaki HANADA, Kohnosuke SATO, Kazuo NAKAMURA, Hideki ZUSHI, Mizuki SAKAMOTO, Hiroshi IDEI, Shoji KAWASAKI, Hisatoshi NAKASHIMA, Aki HIGASHIJIMA

Author information

Makoto HASEGAWA
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Kazuaki HANADA
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Kohnosuke SATO
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Kazuo NAKAMURA
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Hideki ZUSHI
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Mizuki SAKAMOTO
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Hiroshi IDEI
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Shoji KAWASAKI
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Hisatoshi NAKASHIMA
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Aki HIGASHIJIMA
Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University

Keywords: Townsend avalanche, breakdown, induction electric field, radio frequency wave, RF

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2007 Volume 2 Pages 007

DOI https://doi.org/10.1585/pfr.2.007

Details

Abstract

A simple model of radio frequency wave (RF) assisted breakdown based on Townsend avalanche theory is proposed for the purpose of evaluating the effect of RF on Townsend avalanche breakdown. According to this model, the required minimum electric field for RF-assisted breakdown can be decreased down to half of that for breakdown by the induction electric field alone. The electric field of RF reaches a minimum when the frequency of the RF is equal to the electron cyclotron frequency.

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