Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a nuclear-fusion reactor using off-the-shelf components, including permanent rare-earth magnets, which is a unique approach in the world of stellarators. The new device, called Muse, is the first stellarator built at the lab in 50 years and aims to provide insights into plasma behavior for future fusion power plants. While not suited for commercial-scale energy production, Muse serves as a cost-effective and efficient testbed for stellarator design. The project has inspired the formation of startups like Stellarex and Thea Energy, which are exploring innovative concepts for the future of fusion energy.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-off-the-shelf-stellarator