GYROKINETIC APPROACH TO THE PROPAGATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC-WAVES IN NONUNIFORM BOUNDED PLASMA SLABS

A new code, SEMAL, has been developed which solves the linearized Vlas ov-Maxwell wave equations to all orders in Larmor radii. Arbitrary den sity and temperature profiles as well as non-uniform magnetic fields a re considered in slab geometry. The vacuum regions adjacent to the pla sma slab are limited by perfectly conducting walls and contain an ante nna as an excitation source. The linear response is obtained by solvin g the system of one first-order and two second-order integro-different ial equations using a non-polluting finite element discretization. The general equations in the Fourier space, derived in a new comprehensiv e way, and their inverse transform, using k(y) = 0, are described as w ell as the convergence and non-polluting properties of the method. We present the results concerning the influence of alpha particles on ICR F heating schemes for ITER, where we show that small alphas concentrat ion can alter the steady-state operation envisaged with ICRF fast wave current-drive.