Taming the ICRF Antenna – Plasma Edge Interaction via Novel Field-Aligned ICRF Antenna on Alcator C-Mod*

Although ICRF is attractive for bulk plasma heating due to favorable wave propagation, ICRF antenna – edge plasma interaction remains a challenge. Recent experiments reveal that RF-induced potentials in the scrape-off layer and antenna impurity source are dependent on the power ratio between the inner and outer current staps, Pcent/Pout. Using a modified field aligned antenna, the transmission line network connected the center two straps at [0,pi] to one transmitter and the outer two straps another transmitter. This experiment was motivated by positive three strap antenna results from ASDEX-U [V. Bobkov et al 2016 Nucl. Fusion 56 084001]. With -30 dB decoupling, we scanned Pcent/Pout from zero to greater than 1000. A minimum in the RF enhanced potential and local impurity source is observed for Pcent/Pout greater than 1 and less than 4 with a gradual rise in impurity source for Pcent/Pout greater than 4. This minimum correlates where the image currents in the antenna limiters are expected to be smallest. We also tested antenna operation in [0,0,pi,pi] antenna phasing and found excessive local impurity production despite the antenna being field aligned. This antenna phasing excites low k and potentially have higher coupling. Latest results and analysis will be presented