Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for forming a compound plasma configuration, comprising: driving an impulse current through a helical conductor, a gas, and an annular electrode thereby forming an annular plasma between an end of said helical conductor and said annular electrode;  generating an axial magnetic field threading through said annular plasma while increasing said impulse current driven through said helical conductor and said annular electrode; and  generating an azimuthal magnetic field around said axial magnetic field while further increasing said impulse current driven through said helical conductor and said annular electrode, said azimuthal magnetic field differentiating said annular plasma into a plasma sheath and a central plasma channel. 2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inflating said plasma sheath and elongating said central plasma channel while further increasing said impulse current driven through said helical conductor and said annular electrode. claim 1 3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: claim 2 forming an helix with said central plasma channel while decreasing said impulse current driven through said helical conductor and said annular electrode after reaching a maximum for said impulse current. 4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising coalescing a portion of said helix thereby: claim 3 forming a plasma ring comprising a circulating current, and  forming a plasma mantle surrounding said plasma ring. 5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said gas comprises nitrogen. claim 4 6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said gas comprises a fusion fuel. claim 4 7. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of pre-compressing said gas. claim 4 8. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of compressing said plasma mantle. claim 4 9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said compressing step comprises performing an adiabatic compression. claim 8