Research report 2025 - Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (Garching)
Nuclear fusion takes on new forms
Authors
Hindenlang, Florian; Plunk, Gabriel; Babin, Robert; Maj, Omar; Helander, Per; Sonnendrücker, Eric
Departments
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (Garching), Bereich Numerische Methoden der Plasmaphysik;
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (Greifswald), Bereich Stellaratortheorie
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (Greifswald), Bereich Stellaratortheorie
Summary
In the early 1950s, researchers developed a new concept for controlled nuclear fusion: the Stellarator. The original idea – twisting the magnetic field into a figure-8 shape – was soon abandoned in favour of circular designs. New numerical approaches now make it possible to optimise configurations once considered too complex, including the figure-8 shape. The new figure-8 configuration features easy-to-build magnetic coils, a novelty in stellarator design.