A Levitated Dipole is a unique form of fusion reactor technology using a solid superconducting torus, magnetically levitated in the reactor chamber. The superconductor forms magnetic lines of force of a nature similar to Earth's or Jupiter's magnetospheres, and it is believed that such an apparatus could contain plasma more efficiently than other fusion reactor designs.

On Friday, August 13, 2004 at 12:53 PM, the Levitated Dipole Experiment, a collaboration between Columbia University and MIT, successfully energized a superconducting torus with RF and momentarily created plasma within the magnetic field of the dipole . The LDX team has since successfully conducted its first levitation tests, including a 40 minute suspension of the superconducting coil on February 9, 2007 .

References

External links

• Columbia University/MIT LDX Homepage