this part is supported by two useful appendices on some of the
mathematical tools used and the physical units of plasma physics.
State-space models, state observers, H control, and process simulations
are some of the familiar techniques used by ? the authors to meet the
demanding spatial control specifications for these processes; however,
the research reported in the monograph is more that just simulation
studies and proposals for possible future hypothetical controllers, for
the authors have worked with some of the world's leading existing
tokamak facilities. Chapter 5, 8, and 9 respectively, give practical
results of implementations of their control schemes on the FTU Tokamak
(Italy), the TCV Tokamak (Switzerland), and the JET Tokamak (United
Kingdom). Additionally, the authors present simulation results of their
ideas for the control of the new tokamak proposed for the ITER project.
In conclusion, being very aware that most control engineers will not be
conversant with the complexities of tokamak nuclear fusion reactor
control, the authors have taken special care to give a useful
introduction to the background of nuclear fusion, the science of plasma
physics and appropriate models in the first part of the monograph
(Chapters 1 to 3). This introduction is followed by six chapters (4 to
9) of control studies. In Chapter 4, the generic control problem is
established and then five case study chapters follow.
