Existence of an optimized stellarator with simple coils

TL;DR

This paper reports the design of a compact stellarator with only four simple coils, achieving a magnetic configuration with good confinement properties comparable to advanced stellarators, but with much simpler coil shapes.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate an optimized stellarator configuration with simple, interlocking coils, simplifying coil design while maintaining desirable magnetic confinement features.

Findings

Achieved a stellarator with global magnetic well and low ripple

Coil shapes are significantly simpler than those of W7-X

Configuration comparable to advanced stellarators in performance

Abstract

An optimized compact stellarator with four simple coils is obtained from direct optimization via coil shape. The new stellarator consists of two interlocking coils and two vertical field coils similar to those of the Columbia Non-neutral Torus (CNT)[Pedersen et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 205002 (2002)]. The optimized configuration has global magnetic well and a low helical ripple level comparable to that of Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X)[Wolf et al. Nucl. Fusion 57, 102020 (2017)]. The two interlocking coils have a smooth three-dimensional shape much simpler than those of advanced stellarators such as W7-X. This result opens up possibilities of future stellarator reactors with simplified coils.