2024/05/11 by P. Helander, Alan G. Goodman, Helander, Per +7 · 2 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation #FOS: Physical sciences #Laser Design and Applications #Magnetic confinement fusion research #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2405.07085
openalex publication_date 2024/05/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We draw attention to an interesting possibility in the design and operation of stellarator fusion reactors, which has hitherto been considered unrealistic under burning-plasma conditions. Thanks to recent advances in stellarator optimisation theory, it appears possible to create a positive (outward-pointing) radial electric field in the plasma core by carefully tailoring the geometry of the magnetic field. This electric field is likely to expel highly charged impurities from the centre of the plasma through neoclassical transport and thus eliminate, or at least mitigate, a long-standing problem in stellarator physics. Further out, the electric field is expected to suddenly change sign from positive to negative, thus creating a region of strongly sheared flow, which could locally suppress turbulent transport and enhance overall energy confinement.