Large Helical Device: beautiful physics instrument

The Large Helical Device: a scientific instrument that straddles the line between beauty and function:


The Large Helical Device (LHD) project involves construction of the world's largest superconducting helical device, which employs a heliotron magnetic field originally developed in Japan. The objectives are to conduct fusion-plasma confinement research in a steady-state machine and to elucidate important research issues in physics and engineering for helical plasma reactors.

Large Helical Device Project

(via JWZ)