  The Stellarator de Costa Rica 1 (SCR-1) is a modular stellarator with a small
aspect ratio that serves as a valuable research and training tool for plasma
magnetic confinement. This study explored a new heating mechanism and the
factors that influence it. The current state of the device and plasma discharge
are initially presented. Subsequently, the measurement process was utilized to
determine radial profiles of electron density and electron temperature using a
single Langmuir probe, and the results were compared with theoretical
predictions based on the particle and energy balance. Additionally, the VMEC
code was employed to calculate magnetic flux surfaces with characteristics such
as a low aspect ratio, low beta parameter, negative magnetic shear, and
decreasing rotational transform along magnetic flux surfaces. The Mercier
criterion was employed to conduct a linear stability analysis, which identified
a magnetic well that played a crucial role in the linear stability of the
majority of magnetic flux surfaces. Feasibility studies of electron Bernstein
waves were conducted using the IPF-FMDC full-wave code, with input files
generated from the device and known plasma characteristics. The results
obtained from the IPF-FMDC full-wave code revealed that the O-X conversion
percentage reached a maximum of 63 % when considering radiation reflection in
the vacuum vessel. Significant effects of plasma curvature on the O-X wave
conversion and normalized electron density scale length were observed, while
the change in the SCR-1 heating position did not produce a significant impact.
Three damping mechanisms affecting O-X conversion were studied, and one of the
principal effects was the SX-FX conversion due to steep electron density
gradient. Additionally, stochastic electron heating showed a low electron field
amplitude, which is important for limiting the electron Bernstein wave
propagation.
