The Stellarator Approach

Twisting the field with external coils alone — no plasma current, no disruptions.

Strength

No disruptions

Cost

Coil complexity

The stellarator (e.g. the public W7-X device) confines plasma with intricately shaped external coils, needing no driven current and avoiding disruptions, at the cost of complex magnet geometry. It is a serious alternative to the tokamak for steady-state operation.

Kronos does not use a stellarator, but the concept frames why the tokamak's plasma current — which the stellarator eliminates — is a design consideration.