A team of researchers from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and the University of Seville in Spain are making significant strides in the quest for sustainable fusion energy. They are collaborating on a new fusion device known as the SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak (SMART), which aims to harness the power of fusion by fusing plasma in a way that could lead to a viable energy source for the power grid. The project is designed to combine advanced technologies with existing knowledge to address the challenges of fusion energy.

The SMART project is noteworthy because it represents a joint effort among experts from various institutions to explore new approaches to fusion energy. With the help of PPPL’s expertise in magnetics and sensor systems, the team is building a tokamak that utilizes a unique configuration known as negative triangularity. This shape improves the stability of the plasma—hot, electrically charged gas—by reducing instabilities that can disrupt the fusion process. Researchers say this could be a game changer for future compact fusion reactors.

The development of SMART is essential for understanding plasma confinement, which is critical for fusion reactions. SMART’s spherical design is expected to be more effective in maintaining the plasma than traditional doughnut-shaped tokamaks. Researchers have identified that negative triangularity reduces fluctuations in the plasma and provides a larger area for managing heat, making it a promising configuration for future fusion experiments.

In addition to examining the plasma’s behavior, the collaboration is also focused on designing diagnostics to measure important parameters during fusion reactions. These diagnostics will help researchers understand the conditions within the tokamak and improve the efficiency of fusion reactions. As scientists work together on this groundbreaking project, they hope to make significant contributions to the field of fusion energy and pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Research detailing these novel developments can be read in the journals Nuclear Fusion, Review of Scientific Instruments (1, 2, 3), and Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion.

References

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• Dominguez-Palacios, J., Garcia-Munoz, M., Toscano-Jimenez, M., Liu, Y., Mancini, A., Cruz-Zabala, D. J., Berkery, J. W., Labbate, J., Parisi, J. F., Todo, Y., Reyner-Viñolas, A., Podestà, M., Viezzer, E., Oyola, P., & Futatani, S. (2024). MHD stability analysis against pressure and current-driven modes in the SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak. Nuclear Fusion. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ad7fd3
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• Podestà, M., Cruz-Zabala, D. J., Poli, F. M., Dominguez-Palacios, J., Berkery, J. W., Garcia-Muñoz, M., Viezzer, E., Mancini, A., Segado, J., Velarde, L., & Kaye, S. M. (2024). NBI optimization on SMART and implications for scenario development. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 66(4), 045021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/ad2edc
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