The Advanced Projects department pursues exciting emerging research areas in the field of plasma physics and the associated sciences relevant to PPPL’s mission. A History of Possibilities Lyman Spitzer, founder of the Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), originated the concept of the stellarator in the 1950s. These fusion devices, shaped like a coiled DNA double-helix molecule, confine plasma using twisty magnets that prevent the hot subatomic particles from escaping. Now, PPPL collaborates with stellarator projects all over the world, contributing its expertise with plasma diagnostics, or sensors, fueling, and high-performance computing. Professor Lyman Spitzer Jr Current Stellarator Experiments Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) Constructed at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany, W7-X is the world's largest and most advanced stellarator. It uses a set of 70 superconducting magnets to generate a magnetic field shaped for good plasma confinement. PPPL has collaborated with this facility for many years, contributing important components including special magnets that lessen the effects of unwanted magnetic fields, a diagnostic that gathers information about the plasma by observing X-rays, and a system that injects pellets to enhance plasma confinement. Current projects include the development of a sensor that detects the loss of fast-moving atomic nuclei, a powder injector, and a system that measures the plasma density and temperature in real time. Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Tino Schulz - Public Relations Department, Max-Planck-Institut Large Helical Device (LHD) Constructed at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Toki, Japan, this was the world's first large heliotron, a type of stellarator made with superconducting coils that twist all the way around the device’s vacuum chamber, like a boa constrictor with its prey. PPPL has contributed several components to this facility over the years, including an X-ray diagnostic, a powder injector, and a system that measures the plasma’s density and temperature in real time. Current projects include the design and installation of a powder dropper that can improve plasma performance. Multipolar Unicoil Stellarator Experiment (MUSE) This machine, a small tabletop device designed and built at PPPL, is the first stellarator constructed using an array of permanent magnets, like those used to hold photos, notes or artwork on refrigerator doors. PPPL scientists developed MUSE as a proof-of-concept experiment for the use of permanent magnets in combination with simple straight magnets as an alternative for stellarators that have magnets with extremely complicated shapes that are hard to design and build. Researchers plan to use MUSE to study ways to heat plasma, test new magnetic configurations to improve confinement, and explore the effect of the device on magnetohydrodynamics, the field that treats plasmas as fluids. Advanced Diagnostics JT60-SA Advanced Project The recently completed JT-60SA tokamak in Naka, Japan, is part of the international “Broader Approach Agreement” that aims to complement the ITER project and accelerate the realization of fusion energy. The new tokamak, jointly built and operated by Japan and Europe, will address key physics and engineering issues including support for the preparation of ITER operations and optimization of fusion power plants built after ITER. PPPL, a world leader in the design and construction of diagnostic equipment, is developing an x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for the JT-60SA. The device will record the intensity of x-ray emissions in the JT-60SA plasma and inform operators of plasma temperature and the velocity of its rotation. These conditions will exceed 100 million degrees Celsius in the core and up to 500 kilometers per second in high-confinement plasma scenarios. WEST WEST, Tungsten (chemical symbol "W") Environment in Steady-state Tokamak, (formerly Tore Supra) is a French tokamak. MST The Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) is a reversed field pinch (RFP) physics experiment with applications to both fusion energy research and astrophysical plasmas. Meet the Team Luis Delgado-Aparicio Head of Advanced Projects Novimir Antoniuk Pablant Division Head, Stellarator Experiments; Principle Research Scientist Jacob Schwartz Staff Research Physicist- Pilot Plant Systems Studies Featured News Workshop will explore measurement innovations required to understand plasma for fusion energy, microelectronics and more December 4, 2023 View all news More than 40 interns delve into plasma physics and fusion energy research during internships at PPPL September 14, 2023 View all news Scientists discover shortcut that aids the design of twisty fusion facilities August 17, 2023 View all news PPPL makes critical contributions to historic public-private partnership July 5, 2023 View all news Princeton Stellarators, Inc., a PPPL spinoff company, receives funding through DOE’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program June 2, 2023 View all news 1 / 5 ︎ ︎