Erlangen 2026 – scientific programme
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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik
P 16: Poster Session Plasma Physics
P 16.86: Poster
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 13:45–15:45, Redoutensaal
Equilibrium reconstruction and toroidal current density analysis for high-β Wendelstein 7-X plasmas — •E. Hausten1, K. Rahbarnia1, H. Thomsen1, L. van Ham1, C. Brandt1, T. Andreeva1, C. Büschel1, M. Kelly1, P. Pons-Villalonga1, S. Vaz Mendes1, S. Lazerson2, and the Wendelstein 7-X Team1 — 1Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Wendelsteinstr. 1, 17491 Greifswald, Germany — 2Gauss Fusion GmbH, Parkring 29, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
Accurate knowledge of the magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium is essential for interpreting diagnostics and inferring non-measurable plasma parameters in fusion experiments such as the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator. Equilibria can be reconstructed from experimental data using the STELLOPT code [1], which employs optimization methods to find equilibria that best match diagnostic measurements. A key challenge in reconstructions is determining the toroidal plasma current density, for which only limited experimental information is directly accessible. This becomes particularly relevant in high-β scenarios, where increased pressure gradients can drive stronger currents. In this contribution, we present reconstructed current density profiles for high-β plasmas obtained in W7-X experiments. We analyze the influence on rotational transform and Shafranov shift and compare with predictions from the current-evolution code THRIFT [2].
[1] S. A. Lazerson, 2015, Nucl. Fusion 55
[2] L. van Ham et al, 2025, Nucl. Fusion 65
Keywords: Stellarator; magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium; soft X-ray; plasma beta; Shafranov shift