Advancing measurement and control systems for fusion energy.
ORNL’s Diagnostics and Control Group is leading efforts to develop and validate innovative measurement and control capabilities essential for understanding the complex and challenging environments of a fusion reactor.
Fusion systems of the future will depend on high-fidelity diagnostics and intelligent control systems to collect and interpret data. Driven by the challenge of delivering diagnostic and control systems that can operate reliably in fusion reactors, the group’s research seeks to study interactions between plasma and the surrounding device environment and guide decisions for actuator control.
Fusion Ecosystem
Supporting the global fusion research community
The group supports a range of experimental platforms and projects across the international fusion ecosystem:
Designs, installs, operates, and analyzes data from diagnostic systems
Leads the fabrication of diagnostic and control systems—hardware and software—for fusion facilities, and
Prepares for and supports operational commissioning and early experimentation in new plasma systems.
The majority of the group’s current work is in support of ORNL’s Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX), and is responsible for fabricating the device’s diagnostic and control systems, in addition to making preparations for the project’s commissioning and first experiments.
Collaborative projects and global Impact
The Diagnostics and Control Group works with collaborators across multiple institutions, highlighting their role as a trusted technical partner across the fusion energy community. Current projects include:
Fielding enabling technologies for MPEX in the Proto-Lite device at ORNL
Leading diagnostic and control system design, fabrication, and operations planning for MPEX
Installing and contributing to the use of the Diagnostic Residual Gas Analyzer (DRGA) to control burning plasma conditions for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) organization.
Measuring plasma response to applied rf power in the Tungsten (W) Environment in Steady-state Tokamak (WEST)
Characterizing plasma properties for experimental condition in the Wisconsin High-field Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM)
Testing innovative spectroscopic techniques at unprecedented accuracy in the DIII-D National Fusion Facility
Demonstrating long-pulse measurement capability for neutral gases in the Wendelstein 7-X (W7X)
Exploring the performance of plasma-facing ceramics and metal-oxide coatings in Plasma Interaction with Surface and Components – Radio Frequency (PICES-RF)
Technical achievements and highlights
MPEX Commissioning Support
Establishing the MPEX device for first-plasma operations and planning transition to scientific use.
