Tokamak à configuration variable
| Tokamak à configuration variable | |
|---|---|
TCV in 2002 | |
| Device type | Tokamak |
| Location | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Affiliation | EPFL Swiss Plasma Center |
| Technical specifications | |
| Major radius | 0.88 m (2 ft 11 in) |
| Minor radius | 0.25 m (9.8 in) |
| Magnetic field | 1.43 T (14,300 G) |
| Heating power | 4.5 MW |
| Discharge duration | 2 s |
| Plasma current | 1.2 MA |
| History | |
| Year(s) of operation | 1992–present |
| Preceded by | TCA (now TCABR) |
The tokamak à configuration variable (TCV, literally "variable configuration tokamak") is an experimental tokamak located at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Swiss Plasma Center (SPC) in Lausanne, Switzerland. As the largest experimental facility of the Swiss Plasma Center, the TCV tokamak explores the physics of magnetic confinement fusion. It distinguishes itself from other tokamaks with its specialized plasma shaping capability, which can produce diverse plasma shapes without requiring hardware modifications.
The research carried out on TCV contributes to the physics understanding for ITER and future fusion power plants such as DEMO. It is currently part of EUROfusion's Medium-Sized Tokamak (MST) programme, alongside ASDEX Upgrade, MAST Upgrade and WEST.
The TCV tokamak produced its first plasma in November 1992 with full tokamak operation starting in June 1993.