Heliotron (fusion reactor design)

A Heliotron is a type of fusion reactor that uses magnetic fields to contain hot plasma—the superheated, ionized gas where nuclear fusion occurs—without needing heavily shaped configurations. It features a helical (twisted) magnetic field created by special coils, allowing the plasma to follow a stable, closed path. This design offers improved stability and fewer material interactions than other configurations. The goal is to replicate the Sun’s energy process safely on Earth, providing a nearly limitless, clean energy source by fusing light atoms like hydrogen into heavier elements, releasing large amounts of energy without greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste.