Abstract
A number of features of Alfvén wave heating make it potentially attractive for use in large tokamak reactors. Among them are the availability and relatively low cost of the power supplies, the potential ability to act selectively on the current profile, and the probable absence of operational limits in size, fields or density. The physics of Alfvén wave heating in a large tokamak is assessed. Present theoretical understanding of mode coupling and antenna loading is extrapolated to a large machine. The problem of a recessed antenna is analysed. Calculations of loading and a discussion of various heating scenarios for the particular case of NET are also presented.