Real time control of plasmas and ECRH systems on TCV

• Published in: Nuclear fusion Vol. 49; no. 8; pp. 085017 - 085017 (6)
• Main Authors: Paley, J.I, Berrino, J, Coda, S, Cruz, N, Duval, B.P, Felici, F, Goodman, T.P, Martin, Y, Moret, J.M, Piras, F, Rodriques, A.P, Santos, B, Varandas, C.A.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.08.2009; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Current drive; helicity injection; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic confinement and equilibrium; Magnetohydrodynamics (including electron magnetohydrodynamics); Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma dynamics and flow; Plasma heating by microwaves; ecr, lh, collisional heating; Plasma production and heating; Tokamaks; Tokamak type reactors; Theoretical study; Plasma shaping; Experimental study; Current drive; Algorithms; Reviews; Magnetic confinement; Sawtooth instability; Plasma magnetohydrodynamics; Confined plasma; TCV tokamak; ECR heating; Plasma heating
• ISSN: 0029-5515; 1741-4326
• DOI: 10.1088/0029-5515/49/8/085017

Developments in the real time control hardware on Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV) coupled with the flexibility of plasma shaping and electron cyclotron (EC) heating and current drive actuators are opening many opportunities to perform real time experiments and develop algorithms and methods for fusion applications. The ability to control magnetohydrodynamic instabilities is particularly important for achieving high performance fusion plasmas and EC is envisaged as a key actuator in maintaining high performance. We have successfully demonstrated control of the sawtooth instability using the EC launcher injection angle to modify the current profile around the q =1 surface. This paper presents an overview of recent real time control experiments on TCV, developments in the hardware and algorithms together with plans for the future.