The Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Greifswald, northeast Germany, has been significantly improved and will resume scientific experiments in autumn 2022.
Work on the W7-X has resulted in a doubling in heating power and 40 new diagnostics. IPP said that within a few years the upgraded fusion facility should enable plasma operations lasting for up to 30 minutes.
One of the key improvements is the fitting of a new water-cooled divertor, or high-heat flux divertor, a component that helps prevent the contamination of the plasma.
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