Extremum-Seeking-Based Fluctuation Mitigation by ExB Actuation in HELCAT

Q. Wang, E. Schuster, M. Gilmore, S. Xie, A. Ware

IEEE Multi-conference on Systems and Control

Denver, Colorado, September 28-30, 2011

Abstract

We investigate active control of fluctuations via manipulation of flow profiles in a magnetized laboratory plasma device (HELCAT). Fluctuations and particle transport are monitored by electrostatic probes, and ExB flow profiles controlled via biased ring electrodes. A non-model-based optimization algorithm is implemented to seek control inputs that minimize a cost function related to the fluctuation amplitude. The algorithm is also able to identify radial poloidal flow profiles associated with specific levels of RMS fluctuations.