An innovation in the field of nuclear nuclear fusion has resurfaced at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy, with its recent development of the Stellarator, a type of fusion reactor. This breakthrough features the use of common materials and 3D printing techniques to handle high-temperature plasma.
Stellarator reactivated after more than 70 years
Originally devised more than seven decades ago by Lyman Spitzer, the founder of PPPL, this reactor is distinguished by its method of generating magnetic fields through electromagnets arranged in complex configurations, allowing it to confine plasma without the need to induce electric current directly through it, unlike tokamak reactors. Despite this advantage, the historical preference has been for tokamaks, given the plasma confinement efficiency and the challenges associated with reactor design.
However, the introduction of the Stellarator MUSE marks a turning point. This modern version is based on the use of rare earth permanent magnets instead of electromagnets, providing magnetic fields in excess of 1.2 teslas, a force considerably greater than that of standard permanent magnets. This key feature, according to Michael Zarnstorff, senior physicist at PPPL and leader of the MUSE project, is critical to keeping the plasma confined and enabling fusion reactions.
This revamped approach, described as “completely new” by PPPL graduate student Tony Qian, simplifies the construction of Stellarators and facilitates experimentation with different plasma confinement methods. In addition, MUSE significantly improves “quasisymmetry”, a crucial aspect for maintaining uniform magnetic field strength and thus improving plasma confinement. Zarnstorff points out that MUSE achieves this quasi-symmetry with 100 times the accuracy of any existing reactor of this type.
More details about the MUSE project
The PPPL team is now focused on further studying the quasisymmetry of MUSE and accurately mapping its magnetic fields, which are crucial for the success of fusion reactions. While it remains to be seen whether this technology can realize the promise of clean, sustainable fusion energy in the near term, MUSE’s creative solution revitalizes the Stellarator’s potential as a crucial tool in the move toward nuclear fusion.
Stellarator vs Tokamak
The Stellarator and Tokamak reactors represent two different approaches to achieving controlled nuclear fusion, a clean and nearly inexhaustible source of energy.
While Tokamaks confine the plasma in a toroidal shape by means of magnetic fields generated by induced electric currents in the plasma and surrounding electromagnets, Stellarators also use a toroidal design, but generate the necessary magnetic confinement through a complex arrangement of electromagnets, without requiring electric current in the plasma.
This fundamental difference allows Stellarators to operate continuously, unlike Tokamaks, which operate in pulses due to their dependence on electric current. electric current . However, the geometric complexity of Stellarators presents challenges in their construction and optimization, while the relative simplicity of Tokamaks has facilitated their development and positioned them as the most advanced technology in the pursuit of nuclear fusion.
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Source and photo: popsci.com
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