Architecture Glossary

Concise definitions of the terms used across the AI-native architecture — layers, colors, lines, mechanisms, and machine physics.

Core terms

This glossary defines the vocabulary of the Master Blueprint. Terms link to their full pages where one exists.

Structure

• AI-native — intelligence designed into the plant from the first block diagram, not retrofit.
• Layer (L0-L7) — a band of the stack holding a single latency and safety class.
• Stepped hierarchy — the descent of authority from L7 strategy to L1 actuation.
• Interface contract — the explicit, testable promise between adjacent layers.
• Latency gradient — the monotone tightening of time budgets toward the hardware.

Grammar

• Color grammar — purple governance, blue infrastructure, green operations, yellow AI, orange reactor, pink feedback, gray framing.
• Line semantics — microsecond real-time, standard telemetry, and offline batch classes.
• IT/OT boundary — the gray line separating operational technology from general IT.

Mechanisms

• Autonomous hardware failsafe — deterministic quench dump with zero AI dependency.
• Sub-10-microsecond boundary — the hard timing contract for safety-critical commands.
• KRONOS-CTRL twin — the modular predictive twin (Power, Neutronics, Thermomechanics, MHD) running a 50-100 ms shadow.
• PINN / GNN — physics-informed and graph neural networks used at L3.
• MPC — model-predictive control planning bounded actuation over the twin.

Machine physics

• Breeder (Hyperion) — D-T spherical tokamak; Q_sci 3.076, 85.0 MW, 9.66 MA, 16.84 T peak, delta -0.30; TBR lever 1.1/1.5/1.8.
• Burner (Aegis / MetroVolt) — D-3He tandem mirror; 26.49 T plug, 17 T throat, 5.44% neutron fraction; direct energy conversion.
• Ambipolar potential — the electrostatic confinement mechanism of the tandem mirror.
• Negative triangularity — the breeder's ELM-suppressing plasma shape.

Start from the Master Blueprint or the eight-layer stack.