View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

GEM3k: Architecture and Design of a Novel 3rd Generation High Channel Density Soft X-Ray Diagnostic System Towards Commercial Fusion Power Plants.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: GEM3k: Architecture and Design of a Novel 3rd Generation High Channel Density Soft X-Ray Diagnostic System Towards Commercial Fusion Power Plants.
Authors: Wojeński, Andrzej1 (AUTHOR) andrzej.wojenski@pw.edu.pl, Kasprowicz, Grzegorz1,2 (AUTHOR), Chernyshova, Maryna1,2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Energies (19961073). Feb2026, Vol. 19 Issue 4, p918. 41p.
Subject Terms: *Soft X rays, *Plasma diagnostics, *Real-time computing, *Fusion reactors, *Field programmable gate arrays, *Particle detectors, *Plasma stability
Abstract: Achieving reliable, grid-scale electricity generation from nuclear fusion, as envisioned by the DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO) and future commercial reactors, requires unprecedented plasma stability and long-term control. This operational goal is fundamentally challenged by, among others, the dynamic nature of the high temperature plasma and the need to monitor high-Z impurities, such as tungsten, which can severely compromise energy confinement, resulting in discharge disruption and damage to internal reactor walls. Real-time Soft X-ray (SXR) diagnostic systems are therefore an integral and critical component of fusion power plant infrastructure, providing essential temporal and spatial resolution data on these fast-evolving phenomena. To address the severe demands imposed by the extreme operating environment of future fusion reactors, such as DEMO (including intense neutron and gamma fluxes), this work details a current stage in the long-term development of an advanced and robust diagnostic system engineered specifically for technological preparation and future application in these high-fluence environments. This paper presents the third generation of the SXR measurement system, GEM3k, based on Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) technology. This novel diagnostic utilizes a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based architecture, specifically designed for the high-rate acquisition of energy- and spatially resolved plasma radiation distributions. The GEM3k design exploits the inherent radiation hardness of GEM detectors, positioning them as robust sensor units for monitoring plasma dynamics and impurity emissions in future fusion environments. The system readout comprises approximately 34,000 individual pixels mapped to nearly 3000 measurement channels in an XYUV coordinate configuration. This layout enables submillimeter spatial resolution simultaneously with a time resolution better than 10 ms. Addressing the engineering challenges of such a complex high-density readout, this work details the comprehensive design of the GEM3k system, focusing on its architecture, electronics, performance estimations, and data distribution strategies. By enabling precise tracking of impurities and fast plasma behavior, the GEM3k system contributes to the stable, high-gain operation required for future fusion reactors. This directly supports the development of sustainable fusion energy and its eventual integration into modern electricity grids. Furthermore, the planned enhancement to a real-time operating mode could pave a way for a next-generation system for direct integration into reactor control loops. Currently in the prototype phase with initial hardware tests completed, the GEM3k design leverages our extensive experience with diagnostics developed for the JET and WEST tokamaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 191973338
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: GEM3k: Architecture and Design of a Novel 3rd Generation High Channel Density Soft X-Ray Diagnostic System Towards Commercial Fusion Power Plants.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wojeński%2C+Andrzej%22">Wojeński, Andrzej</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> andrzej.wojenski@pw.edu.pl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kasprowicz%2C+Grzegorz%22">Kasprowicz, Grzegorz</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chernyshova%2C+Maryna%22">Chernyshova, Maryna</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 19 Issue 4, p918. 41p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soft+X+rays%22">Soft X rays</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plasma+diagnostics%22">Plasma diagnostics</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Real-time+computing%22">Real-time computing</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fusion+reactors%22">Fusion reactors</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Field+programmable+gate+arrays%22">Field programmable gate arrays</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Particle+detectors%22">Particle detectors</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plasma+stability%22">Plasma stability</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Achieving reliable, grid-scale electricity generation from nuclear fusion, as envisioned by the DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO) and future commercial reactors, requires unprecedented plasma stability and long-term control. This operational goal is fundamentally challenged by, among others, the dynamic nature of the high temperature plasma and the need to monitor high-Z impurities, such as tungsten, which can severely compromise energy confinement, resulting in discharge disruption and damage to internal reactor walls. Real-time Soft X-ray (SXR) diagnostic systems are therefore an integral and critical component of fusion power plant infrastructure, providing essential temporal and spatial resolution data on these fast-evolving phenomena. To address the severe demands imposed by the extreme operating environment of future fusion reactors, such as DEMO (including intense neutron and gamma fluxes), this work details a current stage in the long-term development of an advanced and robust diagnostic system engineered specifically for technological preparation and future application in these high-fluence environments. This paper presents the third generation of the SXR measurement system, GEM3k, based on Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) technology. This novel diagnostic utilizes a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based architecture, specifically designed for the high-rate acquisition of energy- and spatially resolved plasma radiation distributions. The GEM3k design exploits the inherent radiation hardness of GEM detectors, positioning them as robust sensor units for monitoring plasma dynamics and impurity emissions in future fusion environments. The system readout comprises approximately 34,000 individual pixels mapped to nearly 3000 measurement channels in an XYUV coordinate configuration. This layout enables submillimeter spatial resolution simultaneously with a time resolution better than 10 ms. Addressing the engineering challenges of such a complex high-density readout, this work details the comprehensive design of the GEM3k system, focusing on its architecture, electronics, performance estimations, and data distribution strategies. By enabling precise tracking of impurities and fast plasma behavior, the GEM3k system contributes to the stable, high-gain operation required for future fusion reactors. This directly supports the development of sustainable fusion energy and its eventual integration into modern electricity grids. Furthermore, the planned enhancement to a real-time operating mode could pave a way for a next-generation system for direct integration into reactor control loops. Currently in the prototype phase with initial hardware tests completed, the GEM3k design leverages our extensive experience with diagnostics developed for the JET and WEST tokamaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=191973338
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/en19040918
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 41
        StartPage: 918
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Soft X rays
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plasma diagnostics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Real-time computing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fusion reactors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Field programmable gate arrays
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Particle detectors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plasma stability
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: GEM3k: Architecture and Design of a Novel 3rd Generation High Channel Density Soft X-Ray Diagnostic System Towards Commercial Fusion Power Plants.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wojeński, Andrzej
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kasprowicz, Grzegorz
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chernyshova, Maryna
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 02
              Text: Feb2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 19961073
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 19
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Energies (19961073)
              Type: main
ResultId 1