A Miniature Toroidal Plasma Device
The Altator project is a student-led initiative to design and build a miniature toroidal plasma device. Inspired by the original Alcator tokamak that operated at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC), Altator serves as a hands-on educational tool demonstrating plasma flow and confinement within a donut-shaped architecture.
Unlike its full-sized predecessor, Altator features a completely transparent plasma vessel, allowing observers to safely view the beautiful lavender glow of plasma as it circulates within the device.
The project was conceived by a group of ten passionate graduate students seeking practical experience in plasma physics and fusion technology. Recognizing the value of experiential learning, they proposed the idea of building a mini tokamak to the PSFC director, who provided seed funding and the autonomy to bring their vision to life.
Over the past two years, the team designed, sourced components, and built the device in their free time. The collaborative effort involved students from Nuclear Science and Engineering and Physics departments.
Creating Altator presented several engineering challenges. The transparent glass torus, critical for visualizing the plasma, had to be custom-blown to precise specifications. Additionally, the team experimented with various radio frequency (RF) antenna designs to effectively ionize gas and produce plasma.
Despite the complexities, the team successfully achieved plasma generation on their first attempt, surpassing expectations and validating their innovative design.
Altator is intended to serve as an interactive platform for students and visitors to gain hands-on experience with plasma behavior and magnetic confinement fusion. By integrating the device into PSFC lab tours and educational programs, the team aims to inspire interest in fusion research and provide valuable learning opportunities.
Future plans include adding magnetic coils to demonstrate how magnetic fields influence plasma confinement, and possibly incorporating high-temperature superconducting REBCO magnets to showcase modern fusion technologies.
The Altator project continues to evolve, offering opportunities for new students to contribute to its development. Stay updated on the latest progress by following @mit_altator on social media.