Influence of construction errors on Wendelstein 7-X magnetic configurations

Abstract: Wendelstein 7-X, currently under construction at the Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik in Greifswald, Germany, is a modular advanced stellarator, combining the modular coil concept with optimised properties of the plasma. The magnet system of the machine consists of 50 non-planar and 20 planar superconducting coils which are arranged in five identical modules, forming a toroidal five-fold symmetric system. The majority of operational magnetic configurations will have rotational transform ι/2π =1 at the boundary. Such configurations are very sensitive to symmetry breaking perturbations, which are the consequence of imprecisely manufactured coils or assembly errors. To date, all 70 coils have been fabricated, and the first two half-modules of the machine have been assembled. The comparative analysis of manufactured winding packs and estimates of the corresponding level of magnetic field perturbation are presented. The dependency of the error fields on the coil assembly sequence is considered, as well as the impact of the first assembly errors. The influence of different construction uncertainties is discussed, and measures to minimise the magnetic field perturbation are suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]