Plasma kinetic control in a tokamak

Plasma kinetic (temperature and density) control is developed in terms of optimal control theory. This involved solving a distributed parameter control problem for which no previous general theory or techniques could be practically implemented. The methodology used involves reducing the one-dimensional particle and energy transport partial differential equations into a system of ordinary differential equations. The latter are linearized and put into standard control theory format. This technique can be generalized to any distributed parameter system whose variables can be modeled as simple analytic functions of the spatial coordinates. This distributed parameter control technique shows excellent control characteristics when applied to realistic plasma temperature and density profiles. Tests were made on temperatures and densities which had been perturbed about 10% below their desired value and profiles that were significantly more peaked than the required shape. Results were obtained for a simplified model problem with specific empirical transport coefficients and a one species plasma.<
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