Extension of the Create_L linearized model to RFP configurations

This section describes the activity on the generalization of the CREATE_L model aimed at making it suitable for RFP plasmas. It has required the introduction of a new MHD plasma model that depends on a number of parameters whose definition has required a fine tuning work in order to optimize the model performance. The generalisation has also required to take into account the effect of the interaction among the poloidal and toroidal field components that is physically due to the particular RFP MHD equilibrium. Moreover, due to the shorter timescale of such plasmas, it was necessary to take into account the effect of the eddy currents induced into the main passive conductors (namely the vacuum vessel and the conducting shell surrounding it) interacting with plasma and coils. The simulations carries out up to now show a good agreement between the evaluated performance and experimental data from the RFX machine. This section also includes the studies for the active control of MHD modes of the plasma. The first part of the work concerns the evaluation of the dragging torque, which can be exerted on non-axisymmetric plasma modes by means of an external rotating field perturbation. The second part regards the evaluation of the braking torque which is exerted by the conductive structures of the machine when the plasma modes are forced to rotate.