Helicity injection

Helicity injection is a process in plasma physics where magnetic energy and twist are added to a plasma’s magnetic field by driving electrical currents at the device’s boundaries. Imagine winding a rubber band: as you twist and stretch it, you increase its stored energy and complexity. Similarly, in helicity injection, carefully controlled currents create a twisted, stable magnetic field within a plasma, which helps sustain and control the plasma’s shape and stability in fusion devices. This technique is crucial for maintaining high-performance plasmas without relying solely on inductive methods, enabling longer and more efficient fusion reactions.