Development of fast steering mirror control system for plasma heating and diagnostics

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Fusion Energy
• Control Systems Engineering

Background:

• Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) is crucial for plasma temperature control in fusion devices.
• Precise control of the ECH beam position is essential for maintaining optimal plasma conditions.
• Existing systems may lack the dynamic response required for real-time adjustments during plasma discharges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel control system for fast steering mirrors used in ECH launchers.
• To enable two-dimensional scanning capabilities for the ECH beam during plasma discharges.
• To implement a feedback control mechanism for maintaining optimal electron temperature via ECH.

Main Methods:

• Design and implementation of a control system utilizing a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip.
• Integration of plasma diagnostic signals (e.g., electron cyclotron emission, Thomson scattering) for feedback.
• Development of a two-dimensional scanning function for the fast steering mirror.

Main Results:

• Successful development of a feedback control system for ECH launchers.
• Demonstration of two-dimensional scanning capability during plasma discharge.
• Realization of precise ECH beam position control to maintain electron temperature.

Conclusions:

• The newly developed control system effectively manages ECH beam position for enhanced plasma heating.
• FPGA-based feedback control ensures stable and high electron temperatures.
• This system contributes to improved performance and stability in large helical devices.