Development of a non-parametric Gaussian process model in the three-dimensional equilibrium reconstruction code V3FIT

A non-parametric Gaussian process regression model is developed in the three-dimensional equilibrium reconstruction code V3FIT. A Gaussian process is a normal distribution of functions that is uniquely defined by specifying a mean function and covariance kernel function. Gaussian process regression assumes that an unknown profile belongs to a particular Gaussian process and uses Bayesian analysis to select the function the give the best fit to measured data. The implementation in V3FIT uses a hybrid representation where Gaussian processes are used to infer some of the equilibrium profiles and standard parametric techniques are used to infer the remaining profiles. The implementation of the Gaussian process is tested using both synthetic data and experimental data from multiple machines.