TheModel C stellarator was the first large-scalestellarator to be built, during the early stages offusion power research. Planned since 1952, construction began in 1961 at what is today thePrinceton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).^[1] The Model C followed the table-top sized Model A, and a series of Model B machines that refined the stellarator concept and provided the basis for the Model C, which intended to reach break-even conditions. Model C ultimately failed to reach this goal, producingelectron temperatures of 400 eV when about 100,000 were needed. In 1969, after UK researchers confirmed that theUSSR's T-3tokamak was reaching 1000 eV, the Model C was converted to the Symmetrical Tokamak, and stellarator development at PPPL ended.

The Model C had a racetrack shape. The total circumference of the magnetic axis was 12 m.^[2] The plasma could have a 5-7.5 cm minor radius. Magnetic coils could produce a toroidal field (along the tube) of 35,000 Gauss.^[1] It was only capable of pulsed operation.

It had adivertor in one of the straight sections. In the other it could inject 4 MW of 25 MHzion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH).

It had helical windings on the curved sections.

An average ion temperature of 400 eV was reached in 1969.

Construction funding/approval was announced in April 1957 with the design based on Katherine Weimer's efforts in fundamental research.^[3][4]

It started operating March 1962.^[5]

The Model C was reconfigured as a tokamak in 1969,^[1] becoming theSymmetric Tokamak (ST).^[6]

• Experiments on the Model C stellarator. S. Yoshikawa and T.H. Stix
• A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF THE MODEL C STELLARATOR. 1956 Says 9" vacuum tube, but 150 ft long seems unlikely. 150,000 kW peak of pulsed power to the magnets.

• Stellarators
• Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

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