compact torus

A compact torus is a toroidal plasma with no hole in the center. This configuration is being developed as a potential alternative to other magnetic confinement concepts for fusion reactors. Compact tori are small and avoid the engineering complexities of coils that link the plasma torus.1

Magnetic confinement of plasmas is a key approach to controlled nuclear fusion. The goal is to create magnetic field configurations that effectively confine the plasma, ensuring it is in a stable equilibrium state with minimal energy leakage to the walls. Charged particles in the plasma tend to spiral along magnetic field lines, and these lines must be configured to prevent particles from reaching the reactor walls.2