The first plasma: the Wendelstein 7-X fusion device is now in operation
This is an experiment to test stellarator field magnet design to see if it's suitable for wide-scale fusion power production. It took close to 30 years to design and build, hampered in part by the lack of 3D computer computation powerful enough to hash out an optimally-shaped model.
It was notoriously difficult to build, the inner neutron shield being built from large complex shapes of metal that had to fit to within 1mm. Less than perfect welds would create unacceptable distortions.
I love science.
This is an experiment to test stellarator field magnet design to see if it's suitable for wide-scale fusion power production. It took close to 30 years to design and build, hampered in part by the lack of 3D computer computation powerful enough to hash out an optimally-shaped model.
It was notoriously difficult to build, the inner neutron shield being built from large complex shapes of metal that had to fit to within 1mm. Less than perfect welds would create unacceptable distortions.
I love science.
