UC Irvine

Steady-state electron currents were driven by fast waves with ωci≪ω≪ωce in an initially current-free plasma in the Irvine Torus. Current direction was controlled by the fast-wave phased-array antenna. Low power experiments (<25 W) generated up to 1.3 A of electron current with a peak effeciency of η=InR/P≃(6×10-2 A/W)(1013 cm-3)m. Up to 14% of the wave energy was converted to poloidal magnetic field energy.