Pegasus Toroidal Experiment
Encyclopedia
The Pegasus Toroidal Experiment is a plasma
confinement experiment relevant to fusion power
production, run by the Department of Engineering Physics of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is a spherical tokamak
, a very low-aspect-ratio version of the tokamak
configuration, i.e. the minor radius of the torus is comparable to the major radius.
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
confinement experiment relevant to fusion power
Fusion power
Fusion power is the power generated by nuclear fusion processes. In fusion reactions two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus . In doing so they release a comparatively large amount of energy arising from the binding energy due to the strong nuclear force which is manifested...
production, run by the Department of Engineering Physics of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is a spherical tokamak
Spherical tokamak
A spherical tokamak is a type of fusion power device based on the tokamak principle. It is notable for its very narrow profile, or "aspect ratio". A traditional tokamak has a toroidal confinement area that gives it an overall shape similar to a donut, complete with a large hole in the middle...
, a very low-aspect-ratio version of the tokamak
Tokamak
A tokamak is a device using a magnetic field to confine a plasma in the shape of a torus . Achieving a stable plasma equilibrium requires magnetic field lines that move around the torus in a helical shape...
configuration, i.e. the minor radius of the torus is comparable to the major radius.
See also
Other spherical torus experiments:- National Spherical Torus ExperimentNational Spherical Torus ExperimentThe National Spherical Torus Experiment is an innovative magnetic fusion device based on the spherical tokamak concept that was constructed by the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in collaboration with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Columbia University, and the University of Washington at...
(NSTX) - Mega Ampere Spherical TokamakMega Ampere Spherical TokamakThe Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak, or MAST experiment is a nuclear fusion experiment in operation at Culham, Oxfordshire, England since December 1999. It follows the highly successful START experiment...
(MAST) - Small Tight Aspect Ratio TokamakSmall Tight Aspect Ratio TokamakThe Small Tight Aspect Ratio Tokamak, or START was a nuclear fusion experiment that used magnetic confinement to hold plasma. The experiment began at the Culham Science Centre in the United Kingdom in 1991 and was retired in 1998. It was built as a low cost design, largely using parts already...
(START)