Diagnosis and Control of Plasma Instabilities in TOKAMAKs

A crucial problem of research in thermonuclear plasma physics in Tokamaks is the control of rotating helical magnetic perturbations, associated with local distortions of the current density profile. These unstable perturbations (called magnetic islands) can seriously degrade plasma and energy confinement. By injecting energy to the magnetic islands using microwave antennas, a specific magnetic surface layer will be resonance and heated which causes the magnetic islands to disappear. The main goal of this book is to discuss about the implementation of reliable hardware and software structure which is capable of running estimator, observer and controller in real-time to achieve the MHD instability suppression in the FTU (Frascati Tokamak Upgrade) of ENEA in Frascati, Italy in collaboration with IFP-CNR in Milan. Design and realization of signal conditioning and insulation circuit for motor inverters I/O control signals, motors brake control circuit to activate faster motor braking by protection system, and design and implementation of high-speed communication algorithms among the FPGA and DSP modules have been another part of the authors contribution to this research.