Simple multijunction launcher with oversized waveguides for lower hybrid current drive on JT-60U

Abstract A multijunction technique with oversized waveguides has been developed for the lower hybrid current drive launcher on JT-60U. The launcher consists of 4 (toroidal) × 4 (poloidal) multijunction modules. RF power in the module is divided toroidally into 12 sub-waveguides at a junction point through an oversized waveguide. This method simplifies the structure of the multijunction launcher with a large number of subwaveguides. A maximum power density up to 25 MW m −2 has been achieved with a low reflection coefficient of less than 2%. The coupling and current drive efficiency are well explained by the designed wave spectra without taking account of higher modes in the oversize waveguides. Thus, the simple multijunction launcher has been demonstrated to excite expected wave spectra with high power handling capability.