UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
This is a request for a one time supplement to make measurement infrastructure improvements to the Rotating Wall Machine Laboratory. The Rotating Wall Machine (RWM) is investigating internal and external kink modes in a line-tied, rather than toroidal geometry, and is attempting to stabilize the external kink mode (the resistive wall mode) by using moving metal walls. Recent results have shown that reconnection phenomena occur in the experiment, offering a new platform on which to study 3D reconnection.
Three items are to be purchased to enhance the instrumentation infrastructure of the Rotating Wall Machine. This include
(1) new data acquisition hardwareSpecifically, we propose to purchase modern (16 bit, 0.5 MHz) digitizers and associated hardware. This upgrade will free up valuable space, greatly reduce power consumption in the lab, greatly improve the quality of the data (16 bit, higher time resolution), and eliminate the down time associated with overheated digitizers. Moreover, we propose to use the GA plasma control software for controlling these modules. This will give the students experience in state-of-the-art data acquisition systems and real time control used in fusion research.
The analog output channels from these cards will be used to feedback control the current sources of the experiment and for advanced probe work.
(2) a 1 mm wave interferometer system, and (3) a fast camera for observing plasma dynamics.