Electron-Cyclotron Heating (ECRH)

Microwaves tuned to the electron gyrofrequency for precise, localised heating.

ECRH uses high-frequency microwaves at the electron gyrofrequency to deposit heat in a narrow, steerable location — useful for heating, current drive and stabilising instabilities.

ECRH's great virtue is precision: microwaves tuned to the electron-cyclotron frequency deposit power in a narrow, steerable location, useful not only for heating but for driving local current to suppress a specific tearing mode. That surgical control makes it a key tool for stability as well as heating.