What is exciter in electrical?

An exciter in electrical engineering refers to a device that provides the necessary excitation current to the field winding of a synchronous machine, such as a generator. This excitation current is essential for establishing the magnetic field required for the generator to produce electrical power. Exciters can be either rotating (mounted on the same shaft as the generator) or static (using solid-state technology), and they play a critical role in regulating the output voltage and stability of the generator.