Photo of the Week: NSTX-U Fusion Reactor's Center Stack

The National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) is the primary fusion experiment at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The spherical device is shaped more like a cored apple than the doughnut-like shape of conventional tokamaks and can produce high-pressure plasmas - essential ingredients for fusion reactions - with relatively low and cost-effective magnetic fields. NSTX-U will advance the physics and engineering solutions required for optimizing he next generation of tokamak fusion devices. Its compact design makes it an ideal candidate to serve as the model for fusion pilot plant followed by a commercial fusion reactor.