Optimization of quasi-axisymmetric stellarators with varied elongation

Abstract

An optimization study of Quasi-Axisymmetric (QA) stellarators with varied elongation has been carried out using the optimization code STELLOPT. The starting point of our optimization is a previously obtained QA stellarator with three field periods and an aspect ratio of 6. A series of QA stellarators are obtained at zero plasma beta with the varied elongation value ranging from 2.5 to 3.7. A good quasi-symmetry is kept when the elongation value is reduced from the original value of 3.7. The rotational transform profile and aspect ratio are kept fixed. The plasma volume is ether kept fixed or varied linearly with elongation. Furthermore, finite beta QA stellarators are considered. The corresponding bootstrap currents are calculated using the kinetic code SFINCS. A series of kink-stable QA stellarators are obtained via optimization with varied plasma beta up to 5% and self-consistent bootstrap current. This work demonstrates that good QA stellarators with finite beta and varied elongation exist that are stable to external kink modes.