Spectral-based signal-processing techniques for characterizing fluctua
tion data from plasma discharges in the Advanced Toroidal Facility fus
ion experiment are described. The analysis process moves from wave for
m display and spectral analysis of single discharges to coherence filt
ering and database techniques for identifying coherent fluctuations. T
hese analysis techniques are used to distill large volumes of spectral
data from many signals per discharge (for many discharges) into simpl
e forms suitable for comparison with the global variation of plasma pa
rameters.