Real-time control of tearing modes using a line-of-sight electron cyclotron emission diagnostic

B.A. Hennen, E. Westerhof, P.W.J.M. Nuij, J.W. Oosterbeek, M.R. Baar, de, W.A. Bongers, A. Bürger, D.J. Thoen, M. Steinbuch

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Abstract

The stability and performance of tokamak plasmas is limited by instabilities such as neoclassical tearing modes. This paper reports on an experimental proof-of-principle of a feedback control approach for real-time, autonomous suppression and stabilization of tearing modes in a tokamak. The system combines an Electron Cyclotron Emission (ECE) diagnostic for sensing of the tearing modes in the same sight-line with a steerable Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating and Current Drive (ECRH/ECCD) antenna. A methodology for fast detection of q = m/n = 2/1 tearing modes and retrieval of their location, rotation frequency and phase is presented. Set-points to establish alignment of the ECRH/ECCD deposition location with the centre of the tearing mode are generated in real-time and forwarded in closed-loop to the steerable launcher and as a modulation pulse train to the gyrotron. Experimental results demonstrate the capability of the control system to track externally perturbed tearing modes in real-time.
Original languageEnglish
Article number104006
Pages (from-to)104006-1/20
Number of pages20
JournalPlasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Volume52
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

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