Erlangen 2026 – scientific programme
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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik
P 16: Poster Session Plasma Physics
P 16.83: Poster
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 13:45–15:45, Redoutensaal
Modelling of Island Divertor Topology and Edge MHD Instabilities in Stellarators with JOREK — •Orin Varley1, Rohan Ramasamy2, Jonas Puchmayr1, Samet Kocbay1, and Matthias Hoelzl1 — 1Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany — 2Proxima Fusion, Munich, Germany
Large-scale MHD dynamics shape key aspects of stellarator performance, especially island divertor geometry and edge instabilities. This work examines these phenomena and summarizes recent advances in modelling capabilities.
Island divertors are the leading concept for particle and heat exhaust in stellarators, but their performance is highly sensitive to magnetic topology. Increasing plasma β can shift island position and width, enhance chaos, and, in some optimized quasi-isodynamic configurations, even induce phase transitions within the island structure. Using JOREK, we model these β-driven transitions, compare with HINT, and investigate the mechanisms that reshape island topology.
We also study MHD-driven edge instabilities with improved physics models, supported by ongoing developments in the JOREK stellarator framework, including a no-wall boundary condition and diamagnetic drift effects.
This poster presents an overview of these model improvements and their first applications to island divertor physics and edge instability studies, forming a basis for future work on plasma exhaust, detachment, and wall loading in stellarators.
Keywords: Island Divertors; Magnetic Topology; MHD instabilities; 3D non-linear MHD