3D Numerical Simulations of Vertical Displacement Events in Vacuum Vessels with Anisotropic Conductivity*

One of the greatest threats to the implementation of commercial fusion energy is disruptions, which threaten to damage critical reactor structures via intense electromagnetic forces. In this work, we present numerical simulations in three-dimensional toroidal geometry exploring the impact of constructing vacuum vessels partially out of insulating material. This allows the designer to constrain eddy currents so that they are more parallel to the background magnetic field, reducing Lorentz forces on the vessel and potentially reducing the robustness needed for an economical device. This reduction in disruption forces also reduces the vertical stability of the plasma during equilibrium; solutions to this resulting problem are also discussed.