Poloidal force generation by applied radio frequency waves

A theoretical framework is developed for calculating the nonlinear rf forces that can drive sheared poloidal flow in a tokamak plasma. It is shown that the rf-induced flow drive can be calculated without first obtaining an explicit result for the nonlinear distribution function. Instead, for modes satisfying the eikonal approximation, the flow drive can be expressed entirely in terms of moments of the linearized plasma responses. The method is applied to obtain explicit results for poloidal force generation for sheared flow drive applications in a hot plasma slab that supports rf waves of arbitrary polarization. The theory is fully electromagnetic and retains k(perpendicular to)rho(i)similar to 1 (Bessel function) effects for the ion dynamics without approximation. An illustrative application to the ion Bernstein wave is presented. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664X(00)00809-0].