The status of, successively, RF modeling theory, experimental interpretation methods and comparison between theory and experiment is discussed. As far as the recent developments in theory are concerned, it is found that full wave models appear to be consistent with ray-tracing models and to yield comparable results when applied to selected cases where both are applicable. Methods for including consistent gradient terms in the wave equation have now been found; however, a unified understanding of the impact of such corrections is desirable. From the experimental point of view several procedures have been developed based on sawteeth analysis, modulation or simulation, to evaluate the fraction of the power coupled to the plasma bulk and the power deposition profiles. Comparison between experiments and theory on these subjects as well as for coupling indicates that the ICRF physics is well understood. Tail analysis has been done extensively only for PLT; further work is going on for JET and TEXTOR, which clearly reveals their presence and the importance of their role. chi e analysis in the presence of RF has also been done; however, several of the presently available thermal diffusion models seem to be able to fit the experimental data. It is concluded that, in the ICRF field, theory nowadays provides quite reliable tools and that extensive comparisons with experiments should be pursued in order to provide the basis for the understanding of the interplay between heating, velocity diffusion, confinement and edge effects.
Special section on the physics and technology of plasma heating by ICRF power