World's Largest 'Stellarator' Fusion Reactor

October 29, 2015

Scientists are getting ready to switch on one of the world’s largest fusion reactor. Wendelstein 7-X, the reactor can contain super hot plasma for more than 30 minutes at a time. The plasma is contained by external magnetic coils, which creates twisted magnetic field lines in the vacuum chamber. This is known as “Magic Cage” for the hot plasma.

The reactor’s unusual strange twisted design housed in a huge lab in Greifswald, Germany could certainly help in making fusion power a reality. This can be used as an alternative to common Tokamak reactors. Wendelstein 7-X  reactor claims to be safe and more effective at containing plasma. Currently regulatory approval is under process.

Scientists are saying the W7-X is a more practical and viable option, and can overcome the safety problems of a Tokamak reactors. Tokamak world is waiting to see what happens next.

In 1951, Lyman Spitzer who was working at Princeton University brought up the original stellarator design, but due to the complexity it was not considered as a feasible option at that time. Now, by using supercomputers and new materials scientists are trying their best to make it a reality.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3290389/