HELICAL POST STELLARATOR

A novel type of stellarator device, the helical post stellarator (HPS) , is introduced. Calculations are given for a particular HPS configura tion, the single-helix stellarator (SHS) featuring a single-helix cent re post. This configuration is significantly different from all previo usly known stellarators due to the combination of its unique geometric al characteristics and physical properties. Among these are the facts that the helical magnetic field has only one toroidal period (N = 1), the plasma has an extremely low aspect ratio, A approximate to 1, and the variation of the magnetic field, B, along field lines features a h elical ripple entirely on the inside of the torus. Among the main adva ntages of an HPS for the fusion program are an extremely compact, modu lar, and simple design compatible with significant rotational transfor m, large plasma volume, and improved particle transport characteristic s.