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Title: A field programmable gate array unit for the diagnosis and control of neoclassical tearing modes on MAST

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4732057· OSTI ID:22093923
; ;  [1]; ; ; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, York YO10 5DD (United Kingdom)
  2. EURATOM/CCFE Fusion Association, Culham Science Centre, Oxfordshire OX14 3DB (United Kingdom)

A real-time system has been developed to trigger both the MAST Thomson scattering (TS) system and the plasma control system on the phase and amplitude of neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs), extending the capabilities of the original system. This triggering system determines the phase and amplitude of a given NTM using magnetic coils at different toroidal locations. Real-time processing of the raw magnetic data occurs on a low cost field programmable gate array (FPGA) based unit which permits triggering of the TS lasers on specific amplitudes and phases of NTM evolution. The MAST plasma control system can receive a separate trigger from the FPGA unit that initiates a vertical shift of the MAST magnetic axis. Such shifts have fully removed m/n= 2/1 NTMs instabilities on a number of MAST discharges.

OSTI ID:
22093923
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 83, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English