Theoretical Optimization of Stellarators

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Abstract
Net current free toroidal ("stellarator") confinement is studied with a combination of several methods: a complete set of analytical vacuum fields for finding favorable vacuum field configurations; three-dimensional MHD codes for finite-ß, equilibrium computations; the expansion of a general toroidal equilibrium around its magnetic axis as guideline for the computational search in configurational space and for finite-ß, MHD stability; Monte Carlo simulations for particle containment; continuous modular coil systems generating the configurations considered. Results are: vacuum field configurations with sizeable Q = 0, 1, 2, 3 helical fields, substantial twist number (≳ 1/2), significant reduction of the parallel current density, and vacuum magnetic well exist for a toroidal aspect ratio of 15-20 and can be generated by modular coils whose excursions from meridional planes are small compared to the toroidal period length. In these configurations, the finite-ß toroidal shift is strongly reduced, so that a larger ß value (factor 2-4) than in the equivalent Q = 2 stellarator can be achieved. Stability calculations do not exclude the possibility of stable equilibria of this kind with (ß) ≳ 0.05-0.1; transport calculations without electrical field show improvement-as compared to the Q = 2 stellarator-in the collisional and plateau regimes.