ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Feb 2026
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
January 2026
Latest News
Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Jörg Sapper
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1234-1240
Fusion Magnet Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963117
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The WENDELSTEIN 7-X Stellarator, construction of which is about to start at the IPP, is a further experiment in the small group of next-step fusion devices in the world. An essential goal of this machine is to demonstrate concept improvement towards the development of fusion devices. The magent system is designed for optimum stellarator plasma performance and the technical layout will allow steady-state plasma operation - an intrinsic property of stellarators. Consequently, the coil system is superconducting. The main technical parameters are: major radius Ro = 5.5 m, magnetic induction Bo = 3 T, stored magnetic energy Wm = 600 MJ, average plasma radius ro = 0.53 m. The magnet system comprises 50 nonplanar coils, modularly arranged in five periods. Twenty additional ancillary planar coils are arranged around the modular system. These coils serve only to provide experimental flexibility and, consequently, will not be necessary for a power producing fusion device.