SIMSOPT: A flexible framework for stellarator optimization

Abstract

A stellarator is a magnetic field configuration used to confine plasma, and it is a candidate configuration for fusion energy, as well as a general charged particle trap. A stellarator's magnetic field is typically produced using electromagnetic coils, and the shaping of the field and coils must be optimized to achieve good confinement. SIMSOPT is a collection of software components for carrying out these optimizations. These components include Interfaces to physics codes, e.g. for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium.