Use of a genetic algorithm for compact stellarator coil design

A new global optimization technique for designing stellarator coils has been developed and applied to the design of coils for the National Compact Stellarator Experiment. Using this technique coil sets were found with fewer coils and lower current densities than those obtained with traditional methods. A new coil design procedure which uses a genetic algorithm as the core optimization method is described and the resulting advanced coil designs presented.