The present disclosure provides methods for defining a magnet array for a stellarator. In some embodiments, the magnet array, once defined, comprises a plurality of permanent magnets, where each permanent magnet of the plurality of permanent magnets is selected from a set of predetermined permanent magnet types. In some embodiments, each predetermined permanent magnet type in the set of predetermined permanent magnet types has a predetermined shape (geometry) and/or predetermined orientation angles (also known as a polarization orientation).