Progress in ITER Heating and Current Drive System

Recent progress in the R&D and the design work of plasma heating and current drive (H&CD) technologies for ITER are described. The H&CD systems are composed of 20 MW electron cyclotron (EC), 20 MW ion cyclotron (IC) and 33 MW negative ion based neutral beam (N-NB) systems, and design and R&D work continues for plasma commissioning. Significant progress in R&D during the preceding two years has occurred in EC technology. ITER criteria stipulate a power output of 1 MW for 500 sec with 50 % in efficiency. A recently developed 170 GHz gyrotron has fulfilled these criteria. Using the 170 GHz gyrotron, high power tests of the transmission line and the launcher components have proceeded. These advances indicate clear prospects toward ITER plasma commissioning. For IC technology, a revised launcher design increased the number of current straps from 16 to 24 to optimize the electrical performance. For EC and IC power sources, a new RF building was allocated. N-NB design developments include an agreement to use a multiaperture multi-grid type (MAMuG) accelerator as a first candidate. Risk mitigation measures for each H&CD system continue to be discussed in the heating technology community under the leadership of the ITER organization.