Development of the SPARC Plasma Control System software and simulation framework

The SPARC Plasma Control System (PCS) is responsible for controlling plasma parameters during pulses, and enables monitoring of critical parts of SPARC, including coils and plasma facing components. The software processes hundreds of diagnostic signals, estimates the device state, commands actuators to track operator requests, and responds to off-normal events. PCS is developed using neutrino, a lightweight software framework created by CFS for implementing real-time, high-speed, reliable code for a variety of platforms (linux, mac, embedded). The code emphasizes modularity, determinism, safety, and reproducibility and uses high speed, lock free inter-process and inter-node communication. An initial version of the PCS has been developed including equilibrium reconstruction, shape control, vertical control, power balance monitoring and control, bolometer inversion, spectral line fitting, PFC monitoring, a disruption warning system, and transitions to soft/hard landing sequences in response to events. Hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) and hardware-out-of-the-loop (HOOTL) simulation frameworks, along with a real-time-capable control-oriented simulator (COMET), enable automatic continuous integration (CI) testing, and can support running parameter scans and fault scenarios.