Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist Algorithm
Abstract Many fields of basic and applied science require efficiently exploring complex systems with high dimensionality. An example of such a challenge is optimising the performance of plasma fusion experiments. The highly-nonlinear and temporally-varying interaction between the plasma, its environ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06645-7 |
| _version_ | 1818432438231105536 |
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| author | E. A. Baltz E. Trask M. Binderbauer M. Dikovsky H. Gota R. Mendoza J. C. Platt P. F. Riley |
| author_facet | E. A. Baltz E. Trask M. Binderbauer M. Dikovsky H. Gota R. Mendoza J. C. Platt P. F. Riley |
| author_sort | E. A. Baltz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Many fields of basic and applied science require efficiently exploring complex systems with high dimensionality. An example of such a challenge is optimising the performance of plasma fusion experiments. The highly-nonlinear and temporally-varying interaction between the plasma, its environment and external controls presents a considerable complexity in these experiments. A further difficulty arises from the fact that there is no single objective metric that fully captures both plasma quality and equipment constraints. To efficiently optimise the system, we develop the Optometrist Algorithm, a stochastic perturbation method combined with human choice. Analogous to getting an eyeglass prescription, the Optometrist Algorithm confronts a human operator with two alternative experimental settings and associated outcomes. A human operator then chooses which experiment produces subjectively better results. This innovative technique led to the discovery of an unexpected record confinement regime with positive net heating power in a field-reversed configuration plasma, characterised by a >50% reduction in the energy loss rate and concomitant increase in ion temperature and total plasma energy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:05:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8591c6bdfa24f809777ccc55abbde98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:05:12Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8591c6bdfa24f809777ccc55abbde982022-12-21T22:55:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-07-01711710.1038/s41598-017-06645-7Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist AlgorithmE. A. Baltz0E. Trask1M. Binderbauer2M. Dikovsky3H. Gota4R. Mendoza5J. C. Platt6P. F. Riley7Google Inc.Tri Alpha Energy Inc.Tri Alpha Energy Inc.Google Inc.Tri Alpha Energy Inc.Tri Alpha Energy Inc.Google Inc.Google Inc.Abstract Many fields of basic and applied science require efficiently exploring complex systems with high dimensionality. An example of such a challenge is optimising the performance of plasma fusion experiments. The highly-nonlinear and temporally-varying interaction between the plasma, its environment and external controls presents a considerable complexity in these experiments. A further difficulty arises from the fact that there is no single objective metric that fully captures both plasma quality and equipment constraints. To efficiently optimise the system, we develop the Optometrist Algorithm, a stochastic perturbation method combined with human choice. Analogous to getting an eyeglass prescription, the Optometrist Algorithm confronts a human operator with two alternative experimental settings and associated outcomes. A human operator then chooses which experiment produces subjectively better results. This innovative technique led to the discovery of an unexpected record confinement regime with positive net heating power in a field-reversed configuration plasma, characterised by a >50% reduction in the energy loss rate and concomitant increase in ion temperature and total plasma energy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06645-7 |
| spellingShingle | E. A. Baltz E. Trask M. Binderbauer M. Dikovsky H. Gota R. Mendoza J. C. Platt P. F. Riley Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist Algorithm Scientific Reports |
| title | Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist Algorithm |
| title_full | Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist Algorithm |
| title_fullStr | Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist Algorithm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist Algorithm |
| title_short | Achievement of Sustained Net Plasma Heating in a Fusion Experiment with the Optometrist Algorithm |
| title_sort | achievement of sustained net plasma heating in a fusion experiment with the optometrist algorithm |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06645-7 |
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