Stellarator Optimization with Poloidal Field Coils

Author

Haley Wilson, The University Of MontanaFollow
Andrew Ware, The University Of MontanaFollow
Aaron Bader, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chris Hegna, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Graduation Year

2021

Graduation Month

May

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

School or Department

Physics and Astronomy

Major

Physics

Faculty Mentor Department

Physics and Astronomy

Faculty Mentor

Andrew Ware

Subject Categories

Engineering Physics | Plasma and Beam Physics

Abstract

Stellarators are devices that use magnetic fields to optimize the conditions needed for plasmas to undergo fusion. Unlike tokamaks, stellarators do not rely on a plasma current but can produce a helical magnetic field using only external coils. In a stellarator, the coils surrounding the plasma are called modular coils and those that follow the plasma are called poloidal field coils. Modular coils can be difficult to build if they are too complex. An effort is underway to develop coil conditions that meet both physics and engineering constraints. The FOCUS code was developed to flexibly optimize stellarator coil configurations [C. Zhu, et al., Plasma Phys. Contr. Fusion 60, 065008 (2018)]. In this work, we will use the FOCUS code to develop and analyze coil configurations for a plasma boundary that is optimized for particle confinement. We will examine modular coil configurations with and without a set of poloidal field coils.

Honors College Research Project

Yes

GLI Capstone Project

no

Recommended Citation

Wilson, Haley; Ware, Andrew; Bader, Aaron; and Hegna, Chris, "Stellarator Optimization with Poloidal Field Coils" (2021). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 349.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/349