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SHEILA (stellarator)

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SHEILA
Small Heliac Experimental Apparatus
Device typeStellarator
LocationCanberra, Australia
Technical specifications
Major radius0.19 m (7.5 in)[1]
Minor radius0.035 m (1.4 in)[1]
Magnetic field0.03–0.15 T (300–1,500 G)[1]
History
Year(s) of operation1984–1992
Succeeded byH-1NF

SHEILA, the Small Heliac Experimental Apparatus, was the first stellarator in heliac configuration to be built.[2] The heliac is a particularly simple magnetic confinement fusion configuration with only circular magnetic coils and no induced plasma current. It was proposed in 1983 by Shoichi Yoshikawa at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).[3] SHEILA was built and operated in 1984 at the ANU in Canberra, Australia.[4]

Although small, SHEILA quickly demonstrated that the theoretical proposal of a heliac by PPPL was actually capable of confining plasma with flux surfaces, and was therefore a real prospect for fusion power.[5] Flux surfaces were measured with a high resolution electron gun system, and successfully predicted by computations performed in collaboration with PPPL and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the USA. In 1985, SHEILA was also modified to a flexible heliac, again the first such device.[6][7]

SHEILA was followed at the same research centre by the larger and more capable H-1NF flexible heliac.[2][8] In Spain, the TJ-II flexible helical was later built.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Zhang, B.C.; Borg, G.G.; Blackwell, B.D.; et al. (1995). "Helicon wave excitation and propagation in a toroidal heliac: Experiment and theory". Physics of Plasmas. 2 (803): 803–810. Bibcode:1995PhPl....2..803Z. doi:10.1063/1.871432.
  2. 1 2 Barry Green (27 April 2009). "77 years of fusion research in Australia". ITER Organization.
  3. ↑ Yoshikawa, S. (1983). "Design of a helical-axis stellarator". Nucl. Fusion. 23 (667): 667–669. doi:10.1088/0029-5515/23/5/008.
  4. ↑ Hemberger, S.M.; Sharp, L.E. (1985). "Design, construction and first operation of small heliac, sheila". Proceedings of the IAEA Technical Committee Meeting on Plasma Confinement and Heating in Stellarators, 24 - 28 Sept. 1984: 75–77.
  5. ↑ Blackwell, B.D.; Hamberger, S.M.; Sharp, L.E.; Shi, X.H. (1985). "First studies of plasma confined in a toroidal heliac". Nucl. Fusion. 25 (1485): 1485–1490. doi:10.1088/0029-5515/25/10/012.
  6. ↑ Lyon, J.F; et al. (1990). "Stellarators". Nucl. Fusion. 30 (91695): 1695–1715. doi:10.1088/0029-5515/30/9/004.
  7. ↑ Dewar, B.; et al. (4–8 Dec 1989). "The ANU Heliac Program". First International Toki Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion, Toki (Japan). OSTI 7264735. CONF-891240--6.
  8. ↑ Dominguez, Nicolas (1992). Review of Stellarator Research: In Search of the "Magic Magnetic Bottle". Oak Ridge National Laboratory. CONF-920728--1.
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