Displaying DIII-D plasma data using DEC's X window system
The D3-D tokamak program, funded by the Department of Energy, carries out plasma physics and fusion energy research experiments. The machine began operation in February 1986; at that time, approximately 7 Mbytes of data was collected for shot. Since that time, the shot size has steadily increased to over 50 Mbytes with the average shot size between 35 and 45 Mbytes. Shots are fired every 12 to 15 minutes and last approximately 5 to 10 seconds. Between 30 and 40 shots are fired each day when plasma experiments are scheduled. In 1987 MFITD and MFITPLAY were written/modified. These two programs provide graphical output that allows the users to see, before the next shot, the plasma shape and the locations of the plasma and magnetic flux lines within the tokamak. MFITD performs the computations which calculate the shape and location of the plasma; it also graphically displays a small subset of timeslice data. MFITPLAY graphically displays the full set of timeslice data. Through interactive commands, MFITPLAY also allows the user to control the various aspects of how the data is displayed. In 1990, both programs were converted from User Interface Services (UIS) routines, which are part of the MicroVMS workstation graphics software, to DEC's X Window System using the DECWindows window manager. These modifications were required because of a move by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) to support X windows and phase out UIS. Due to the nature and purpose of each program, MFITD needed only simple graphics conversion while MFITPLAY was completely rewritten. The DECWindows version of MFITPLAY offers a number of improvements, such as a more intuitive user interface.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-89ER51114
- OSTI ID:
- 5996613
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A-20610; CONF-910968-54; ON: DE92004456
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 14. IEEE symposium on fusion engineering, San Diego, CA (United States), 30 Sep - 3 Oct 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
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99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
DOUBLET-3 DEVICE
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
INTERACTIVE DISPLAY DEVICES
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DATA PROCESSING
M CODES
MAGNETIC FLUX
MODIFICATIONS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTER OUTPUT DEVICES
COMPUTER-GRAPHICS DEVICES
CONFINEMENT
DISPLAY DEVICES
PROCESSING
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
700310* - Plasma Confinement- (1992-)
700480 - Fusion Technology- Component Development
Materials Studies- (1992-)
990200 - Mathematics & Computers