Electrical engineering student Simon Liu has released a comprehensive guide for constructing a plasma toroid generator, affectionately dubbed a “tokamak,” that can be built at home or in an office setting. Collaborating with a maker known as “Skylake,” Liu has developed an open-source project that emphasizes affordability, claiming it to be the lowest-cost option for creating a plasma toroid.
While the term “tokamak” typically refers to a magnetic confinement system for nuclear reactions, Liu’s design does not use magnetic confinement; instead, it generates a plasma ring within an 80mm glass jar filled with xenon gas. The setup features a cleverly designed PCB top-plate for winding a four-turn copper coil, which rests above a control board equipped with an aluminum heatsink and a fan for cooling high-power components.
Once activated with a piezoelectric igniter, the device produces a striking floating plasma ring. However, Liu warns users to exercise caution: “Stay away from the coil when the circuit is working, as the high temperature may cause burns.” He advises limiting operation to no more than two minutes at a time to prevent overheating.
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