Science Opportunities for University Fusion Research From State-of-the-Art Magnet, Control, and Data Systems

The success of the CFS/TFMC (MIT News, Sept 8, 2021) heralded a “
new
age” in magnetic fusion research: moving from copper to high temperature superconductor. In this poster, we illustrate the advantages that will result when pulsed copper TF coils in university-scale fusion experiments (e.g. like the HBT-EP device at Columbia University) are replaced by steady-state REBCO coils. The superconducting TF coils would greatly enlarge the experimental toroidal volume. Scientists and students would benefit from an easily configurable toroidal plasma with improved control capabilities. Increased scientific productivity results from repetitively pulsed, long plasma discharges. In contrast with the very high-field CFS/TFMC, superconducting TF coils at universities would operate at lower field, lower stress, very high quench margin, but retain high current density. The facility would be designed to maximize flexibility and the ability to perform precise laboratory validations of new magnetic configurations for smaller and safer fusion devices. Along with a steady TF, pulse-power systems would be replaced by solid-state equilibrium control amplifiers operated under computer control. These new technologies when combined with innovations in high-throughput detection, deep learning based tracking algorithms, and massive data collection, would provide a highly-relevant research plateform for frontier science questions and multiple users of a configurable superconducting research facility.