Wendelstein 7-AS
The Wendelstein 7-AS stellarator was in operation at Garching from 1988 till 2002.
Scetch of the Wendelstein 7-AS fusion device
Graphic: IPP, I. Weber
The Wendelstein 7-AS stellarator experiment was a member of the advanced stellarator generation developed at IPP. It subjected basic elements of stellarator optimisation to first tests. This served as basis for successor Wendelstein 7-X, at IPP’s Greifswald branch.
Wendelstein 7-AS differed from previous stellarators by virtue of a newly calculated, physically improved magnetic field that was likewise generated by novel, three-dimensionally distorted coils.
Objectives:
- Investigation of a currentless plasma
- Demonstration of the improved equilibrium and transport behaviour as a result of the enhanced magnetic field structure
- Investigation of the plasma’s stability limits
- Heating the plasma by different methods
- Divertor studies
| Technical data | |
Major plasma radius |
2 metres |
| Minor plasma radius | 0.2 metres |
| Magnetic field |
2.5 - 3.5 tesla |
| Number of coils |
45 |
| Plasma volume | 1 cubic metres |
| Pulse length |
3 seconds |
| Plasma heating | 5.6 megawatts |