Stellarators as a fast path to fusion

Boozer, Allen H.

doi:10.1088/1741-4326/ac170f

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Stellarators have several compelling properties as fusion reactor candidates, the most important one being the absence of plasma disruptions. In comparison with tokamaks, the plasmas in stellarators are relatively stable to kink modes and tearing modes thanks to the fact that the net toroidal plasma current is usually very small (Boozer 2021). It does not vanish entirely, even in the absence of active current drive, due to the bootstrap current arising in response to plasma density and temperature gradients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructing precisely quasi-isodynamic magnetic fields

Goodman,

Camacho Mata,

Henneberg

et al. 2023

J. Plasma Phys.

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We present a novel method for numerically finding quasi-isodynamic stellarator magnetic fields with excellent fast-particle confinement and extremely small neoclassical transport. The method works particularly well in configurations with only one field period. We examine the properties of these newfound quasi-isodynamic configurations, including their transport coefficients, particle confinement and available energy for trapped-electron-instability-driven turbulence, as well as the degree to which they change when a finite pressure profile is added. We finally discuss the differences between the magnetic axes of the optimized solutions and their respective initial conditions, and conclude with the prospects for future quasi-isodynamic optimization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructing precisely quasi-isodynamic magnetic fields

Goodman,

Camacho Mata,

Henneberg

et al. 2023

J. Plasma Phys.

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“…Stellarators may offer a faster and safer path to fusion energy than tokamaks [165]. Stellarators do not require an internal plasma current to achieve confinement, so they do not suffer from disruptive current instabilities (i.e.…”

Section: Stellarator Optimizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Machine learning and Bayesian inference in nuclear fusion research: an overview

Pavone

Merlo

Kwak

et al. 2023

Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion

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This article reviews applications of Bayesian inference and machine learning in nuclear fusion research. Current and next-generation nuclear fusion experiments require analysis and modelling eﬀorts that integrate diﬀerent models consistently and exploit information found across heterogeneous data sources in an eﬃcient manner. Model-based Bayesian inference provides a framework well suited for the interpretation of observed data given physics and probabilistic assumptions, also for very complex systems, thanks to its rigorous and straightforward treatment of uncertainties and modelling hypothesis. On the other hand, machine learning, in particular neural networks and deep learning models, are based on black-box statistical models and allow the handling of large volumes of data and computation very eﬃciently. For this reason, approaches which make use of machine learning and Bayesian inference separately and also in conjunction are of particular interest for today’s experiments and are the main topic of this review. This article also presents an approach where physics-based Bayesian inference and black-box machine learning play along, mitigating each other’s drawbacks: the former is made more eﬃcient, the latter more interpretable.

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“…However, this design provides an exceptional intrinsic plasma stability and the possibility of continuous operation. This approach has been investigated in public projects aimed at demonstrating the working principles, the main ones being Wendelstein 7-X in Germany, the Helically Symmetric Experiment (HSX) in the US, and the Large Helical Device in Japan (Boozer, 2021). Recently, private companies also started developing the stellarator concept in France (Renaissance Fusion) and United States (Type One Energy and Princeton Stellarators) with ambitious goals that require huge innovations in some fields, especially related to the complex production of nonplanar coils on a large scale.…”

Section: Stellaratormentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of commercial nuclear fusion projects

Meschini,

Laviano,

Ledda

et al. 2023

Front. Energy Res.

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Nuclear fusion technologies have re-gained momentum in the last decade thanks to their disruptive potential in different fields, such as energy production and space propulsion, and to new technological developments, especially high temperature superconductor tapes, which allow overcoming previous performance or design limits. To date, reviews of recent nuclear fusion designs are lacking. Therefore, this paper aims at giving a comprehensive overview of nuclear fusion concepts for industrial applications with a focus on the private sector. The designs are classified according to the three leading concepts for plasma confinement, namely, magnetic confinement, inertial confinement and magneto-inertial confinement. The working principles of the main devices are described in detail to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the different designs. The importance of the public sector on private projects is discussed. The technological maturity is estimated, and the main criticalities for each project are identified. Finally, the geographical distribution of the companies (or public institutions) pursuing the design of fusion devices for commercial applications is reported.

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Stellarators as a fast path to fusion

Cited by 17 publications

References 70 publications

Constructing precisely quasi-isodynamic magnetic fields

Constructing precisely quasi-isodynamic magnetic fields

Machine learning and Bayesian inference in nuclear fusion research: an overview

Review of commercial nuclear fusion projects

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