A real time plasma boundary determination and display system using transputers

A transputer based system has been developed to perform real time determination of the plasma boundary. The system calculates the plasma boundary in less than 2ms, using digitised data from a set of the magnetic pickup coils and saddle loops. The result of this analysis is passed on simultaneously to a display station and to a second transputer system for further analysis. The display station provides, on-line, an animated display of the plasma boundary cross-section during the pulse. Although this display only shows the results at a suitable rate for animation, all incoming data is stored. This makes it possible to replay all the data after the pulse for more detailed analysis (Fig. 1). (orig.)