Controlled magnetohydrodynamic mode sustainment in the reversed-field pinch: Theory, design and experiments

A novel control system design for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) resistive-wall mode (RWM) stabilization is developed from the viewpoint of process control. The engineering approach assumed consists of system identification, selection of feedback interconnections, and subsequently, associated feedback gain tuning. A design for general output tracking is devised, implemented and experimentally verified to be capable of sustaining MHD modes in the reversed-field pinch (RFP) machine EXTRAP-T2R. In principle, by active feedback, the plasma column boundary is forced to ‘user-specified’ helicities of prescribed amplitudes and phases. Experimental success is mainly attributed to careful identification of local magnetic field diffusion time-constants, and individual actuator channel peripheral dynamics. Addition of functionality and key features of this new MHD feedback system software might provide a versatile tool for experimental plasma dynamics and innovative MHD stability research.