Robust stabilization of the current profile in tokamak plasmas using sliding mode approach in infinite dimension

This paper deals with the robust stabilization of the spatial distribution of tokamak plasmas current profile using a sliding mode feedback control approach. The control design is based on the 1D resistive diffusion equation of the magnetic flux that governs the plasma current profile evolution. The feedback control law is derived in the infinite dimensional setting without spatial discretization. Numerical simulations are provided and the tuning of the controller parameters that would reject uncertain perturbations is discussed. Closed loop simulations performed on realistic test cases using a physics based tokamak integrated simulator confirm the relevance of the proposed control algorithm in view of practical implementation.