Physics of compact stellarators

S. P. Hirshman, D. A. Spong, J. C. Whitson, B. Nelson, D. B. Batchelor, J. F. Lyon, R. Sanchez, A. Brooks, G. Y.-Fu, Robert James Goldston, L. P. Ku, D. A. Monticello, H. Mynick, G. H. Neilson, N. Pomphrey, M. Redi, W. Reiersen, A. H. Reiman, J. Schmidt, R. WhiteM. C. Zarnstorff, W. H. Miner, P. M. Valanju, A. Boozer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent progress in the theoretical understanding and design of compact stellarators is described. Hybrid devices, which depart from canonical stellarators by deriving benefits from the bootstrap current which flows at finite beta, comprise a class of low aspect ratio A<4 stellarators. They possess external kink stability (at moderate beta) in the absence of a conducting wall, possible immunity to disruptions through external control of the transform and magnetic shear, and they achieve volume-averaged ballooning beta limits (4%-6%) similar to those in tokamaks. In addition, bootstrap currents can reduce the effects of magnetic islands (self-healing effect) and lead to simpler stellarator coils by reducing the required external transform. Powerful physics and coil optimization codes have been developed and integrated to design experiments aimed at exploring compact stellarators. The physics basis for designing the national compact stellarator will be discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1858-1864
Number of pages7
JournalPhysics of Plasmas
Volume6
Issue number5 I
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1999

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Physics of compact stellarators'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this