MDI: Mathematica database interface for the MFEDB Page: 4 of 82
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description of each command may be found by using the Mathematica ? operator. Most
MDI commands return either a list of strings or a graphic object. The strings may need to
be converted into numbers for certain Mathematica operations. The function
MdiToNumber is provided for this operation. The MdiProfile and MdiProfilexY
commands convert the lists into numbers directly.
A. MFEDB
To make use of the MFEDB one should be familiar with some of the terms used in
the database and the general organizational structure of the database. Appendix I contains a
diagram of the internal relational structure of the MFEDB and shows the important links
between the tables. Use of the MDI command largely obviates the need to understand how
these links are used or the organization of the database; however the MFEDB does define
certain terminology that should be understood. Each experiment is referred to as a
machine. For each machine the data is organized in terms of discharges or shots and these
discharges ar- numbered with a shot number. Experimentalists often refer to particular
discharges in terms of certain nominal parameters, even though these parameters may only
be approximately obtained during part of the discharge. These parameters describe the
discharge conditions and include the toroidal field, plasma current, average electron
density, etc. Discharges are also often characterized by different terms such as the type of
heating, ohmic, beam, etc., or the boundary conditions, limited, diverted; these terms are
called keywords. Keywords are words that describe the discharge without needing an
associated value. Other scalar characteristics of the discharge, such as particle confinement
time require both a parameter name and value. These are called characteristics, and the
value is the characteristic value.
The MFEDB is not an experimental archive and does not store raw data. All data has
been analyzed and converted to physically meaningful quantities, such as electron
temperature, electron density, etc. These physical quantities are usually measured at
multiple points across a discharge at a given time to form a radial profile or are measured at
a given position for multiple points in time to form a temporal profile. In general,
quantities that have values associated with an independent variable are called profiles. Each
profile is characterized by its name, the independent variable, either space or time, the
coordinate system, how the data are stored etc. Each profile is stored either as a fit to a
specified function or as data-point four-tuples, (x, dx, y ,dy), although the error values are
often zero. Spatial profiles that have been taken at several times during a discharge are
numbered by a slice number. Profiles that are functions of time, are given a slice number4
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Wiley, J. C.; Miner, W. H., Jr. & Ross, D. W. MDI: Mathematica database interface for the MFEDB, report, April 1, 1992; Austin, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1058361/m1/4/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.