Know Your Tokamaks

January 19, 2006

A tokamak is a doughnut-shaped vacuum chamber surrounded by magnetic coils, says USU physicist Eric Held. A tool for controlled fusion research, the device extracts useful power from thermonuclear fusion. The name comes from the Russian words describing a toroidal chamber in which plasma, an ionized gas, is heated and confined by magnetic fields.

For more information, contact Eric Held, associate professor, Physics Department, College of Science, Utah State University, 435-797-7166.

TRANSLATE

Comments and questions regarding this article may be directed to the contact person listed on this page.

Next Story in Campus Life

April 03, 2026 351

USU Eastern Welcomes Over 400 Archers for State 3D Archery Tournament

At the end of March, USU Eastern transformed a gym into a 3D archery arena, complete with animal targets and designated shooting stations.

Archers competing in a tournament with 3D animal-shaped targets.

Read the Story

Utah State Research Highlighted During 2026 Research Week

April 6-10, is Utah State University's annual Research Week. Several opportunities have been added to the calendar this year, making this USU's biggest Research Week yet.