Plasma chamber of Wendelstein 7-X sealed vacuum-tight
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Interior of the plasma chamber of Wendelstein 7-X
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This photo taken by Torsten Bräuer shows the inside of the plasma chamber of Wendelstein 7-X just before it was sealed vacuum-tight and started its first operation.
The cooling process started in February and on the 10th of March the target temperature of four degrees kelvin was reached. On 12 March the last of over 200 ports in the plasma vessel was sealed vacuum-tight and the evacuation could start. At this moment the search for vacuum leaks is proceeding.
The first plasma in Wendelstein 7-X is expected by the end of 2015 at the latest.