The threshold condition for stochastic diffusion of energetic ions due to lower hybrid waves

Abstract

In the present paper we consider the interaction between energetic ions and lower hybrid waves in tokamak plasmas and study the parametric dependence of the threshold condition for stochastic ion diffusion. It is shown that the threshold condition as obtained in the work by Karney [C. F. F. Karney, Phys. Fluids 22, 2188 (1979)] may be not easily satisfied in present day large tokamaks, but can attained in small tokamaks with relatively modest levels of wave power.