Optimized finite-build stellarator coils using automatic differentiation

TL;DR

This paper introduces FOCUSADD, a gradient-based optimization code using automatic differentiation to design finite-build stellarator coils, accounting for practical manufacturing constraints and improving coil accuracy.

Contribution

FOCUSADD is a novel optimization tool that efficiently computes derivatives for finite-build coil parameters, enabling realistic stellarator coil design considering manufacturing effects.

Findings

Finite-build coil designs differ by about 2.5mm from filamentary models.

Automatic differentiation simplifies derivative calculations for complex coil parameters.

Finite-build effects are significant for stellarators with tight coil tolerances.

Abstract

A new stellarator coil design code is introduced that optimizes the position and winding pack orientation of finite-build coils. The new code, called FOCUSADD, performs gradient-based optimization in a high-dimensional, non-convex space. The derivatives with respect to parameters of finite-build coils are easily and efficiently computed using automatic differentiation. FOCUSADD parametrizes coil positions in free space using a Fourier series and uses a multi-filament approximation to the coil winding pack. The orientation of the winding pack is parametrized with a Fourier series and can be optimized as well. Optimized finite-build coils for a W7-X-like stellarator are found, and compared with filamentary coil results. The final positions of optimized finite-build W7-X-like coils are shifted, on average, by approximately 2.5mm relative to optimized filamentary coils. These results suggest that finite-build effects should be accounted for in the optimization of stellarators with low coil tolerances.