LOWER-HYBRID DRIVEN LONG PULSES IN TORE SUPRA

With Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD), very long pulses can be obtained in TORE SUPRA. Volt-second saving studies by LHW assisted current ramp-up, current drive and electron heating are first discussed. A 12 seconds stationary discharge with improved energy confinement time (40 %) by peaking the current profile is presented with a central electron temperature up to Te(o) approximately 10 keV . A 1 minute flat top time duration discharge has been achieved with a plasma current I(p) = 1 MA : 80 % of this current is driven by LHW. During this discharge the core density is fed continuously by deuterium gas puff indicating that the inner first wall is still pumping all along the shot. Finally results concerning the interaction of LHW with high density plasmas (peak density approximately 10(20) m-3) and 3 MeV fusion protons are given.