Control, Acquisition and Archiving System Architecture for the Operation of Quasi-stationary High-current Plasma Accelerator in Pulse-periodic Mode

One of the key tasks in the framework of creating a prototype plasma rocket thruster based on a quasi-stationary high-current plasma accelerator (QSPA) is the operation of the QSPA in a pulse-periodic mode. The transition from a single-pulse mode, in which the QSPA has been operated until now, to a pulse-periodic mode requires the significant change of a control system. This paper presents the requirements on the control, acquisition and archiving system, which ensures the operation of the QSPA in a pulse-periodic mode. The proposed control system architecture is based on the principles of distributed control and minimal connectivity. Also, the paper describes the testing of a control system key task, namely, the execution a sequence of acquisition and analysis of diagnostic data. Test results demonstrate, that the control system architecture developed using standard hardware is able to ensure the operation of the QSPA in a pulse-periodic mode with a frequency of up to 10 Hz for up to 20 min.