Speaker: Rogério Jorge, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Portugal
Abstract: The pursuit of magnetic confinement fusion demands the implementation of magnetic fields with exceptional properties to maintain high-temperature plasmas, regulate plasma density, fast particle dynamics, and turbulence. In traditional design methods for stellarator machines, magnetic fields and coils were optimized independently, leading to stringent engineering tolerances and a neglect of the impact of turbulence on confinement. Recent advancements in the optimization of stellarator devices, however, have made significant contributions to the field. These innovations include direct near-axis designs, integrated plasma-coil algorithms, and precise quasisymmetric and quasi-isodynamic fields, as well as direct turbulence optimization. These approaches allow for a more comprehensive and efficient optimization process, taking into account the interdependence of magnetic fields and plasma parameters. This presentation will delve into the details of these innovations in magnetic confinement fusion optimization algorithms and their implications for the advancement of fusion devices in plasma physics.