Closed Loop Feedback of MHD Instabilities on DIII-D
Authors: E. Fredrickson, J. Bialek, A.M. Garofalo, L.C. Johnson, R.J. LaHaye, E.A. Lazarus, J. Manickam, G.A. Navratil, M. Okabayashi, J.T. Scoville, and E.J. Strait
Date of PPPL Report: January 2001
Accepted for publication in: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion [this paper is an expanded version of Abstract P4.050 from the 27th European Physical Society (EPS) Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion (Budapest, Hungary, June 12-16, 2000)]. A "Provisional Collection of Submitted Contributions" can be found at the following web site: http://www.eps2000.kfki.hu (active as of January 15, 2001). Papers are in PDF format.
A system of coils, sensors and amplifiers has been installed on the DIII-D tokamak to study the physics of feedback stabilization of low-frequency MHD [magnetohydrodynamic] modes such as the Resistive Wall Mode (RWM). Experiments are being performed to assess the effectiveness of this minimal system and benchmark the predictions of theoretical models and codes. In the last campaign, the experiments have been extended to a regime where the RWM threshold is lowered by a fast ramp of the plasma current. In these experiments, the onset time of the RWM is very reproducible. With this system, the onset of the RWM has been delayed by up to 100 msec without degrading plasma performance. The growth rate of the mode increases proportional to the length of delay, suggesting that the plasma is evolving towards a more unstable configuration. The present results have suggested directions for improving the feedback system including better sensors and improved feedback algorithms.