Der Stellarator Wendelstein 7-X

The Wendelstein 7-X research Facility at the Greifswald branch institute of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics is to become the world's biggest stellarator-type fusion experiment. Unlike tokamaks, stellarators work without a toroidal plasma current; their magnetic field is generated exclusively by external coils. This makes permanent operation of stellarators possible and allows stable plasma operation, but requires magnet coils of intricate shapes. The plans for Wendelstein 7-X were completed in a preparation period of ten years in which the theoretical concept of the optimized stellarator was developed further and backed experimentally by the smaller (iarching Wendelstein 7-AS stellarator. Assembly of Wendelstein 7-X began in the fall of 2004. Industries from all over Europe produce the components of the plant.