Nuclear fusion race: ‘Flexible’ stellarators could give US edge over China
A team of 24 physicists from leading plasma research institutes in the US has released a white paper suggesting that the country should construct a “flexible” stellarator facility to stay ahead in nuclear fusion technology. This comes as China and Russia advance their own nuclear fusion technologies.
Currently, there is no planned or existing facility in the US where researchers can test their theories and concepts related to fusion pilot plants. The study suggests building a new mid-scale stellarator user facility that will validate theoretical advances and deliver the physics basis needed by the fusion industry.
Nuclear fusion research uses two types of devices: tokamaks and stellarators. Although both use magnetic fields to confine plasma, they are not the same. Tokamaks are big doughnut-shaped devices with a toroidal magnetic field, while stellarators have a complex design involving convoluted coils that wrap around the toroidal chamber.
The lead author of the white paper suggests building a flexible stellarator facility because it will be more stable and won’t require significant plasma current to generate a magnetic field. The US has many efficient tokamaks, but also needs a flexible stellarator that can be adjusted for different experimental setups.
A two-stage approach is proposed: stage one focuses on finding the magnetic configuration that leads to minimum turbulence and optimized confinement; in stage two, power and heat management systems will be upgraded based on the findings of stage one. The study suggests it will take at least six to nine years to complete the facility, but once operational, it will provide a safe experimental access and leverage expertise across universities, national laboratories, and private industry.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/science/flexible-stellarator-facility-for-us