stellarátor

A stellarator is a type of magnetic confinement fusion device. Its name comes from the Latin word for star, as its purpose is to harness the power of nuclear fusion, the process that powers stars. Unlike tokamaks, which use a toroidal magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the plasma, stellarators rely on external magnetic coils to create the complex, twisted magnetic field necessary to confine the plasma.

The key feature of a stellarator is its inherently three-dimensional magnetic field configuration. This intricate field geometry is designed to prevent plasma instabilities that can lead to energy loss. The non-axisymmetric nature of the magnetic field means that stellarators do not require a large, induced current in the plasma, which can be a source of disruptions in tokamaks. This simplifies steady-state operation.

Building and designing stellarator coils is significantly more complex than for tokamaks due to their non-planar shapes. However, the potential for stable, continuous operation without disruptive plasma currents makes them an attractive alternative in the pursuit of fusion energy. Experimental stellarators have demonstrated progress in achieving and sustaining high-temperature plasmas, contributing to the ongoing research in fusion energy.