A method for generating and maintaining a magnetic field with a field reversed configuration within a confinement chamber of a system, the system comprising: first and second diametrically opposed FRC formation sections coupled to the confinement chamber, first and second divertors coupled to the first and second formation sections, one or more of a plurality of plasma guns, one or more biasing electrodes and first and second mirror plugs, wherein the plurality of plasma guns includes first and second axial plasma guns operably coupled to the first and second divertors, the first and second formation sections and the confinement chamber, wherein the one or more biasing electrodes are positioned within one or more of the confinement chamber, the first and second formation sections, and the first and second divertors, and wherein the first and second mirror plugs are positioned between the first and second formation sections and the first and second divertors, a gettering system coupled to the confinement chamber and the first and second divertors, a plurality of neutral atom beam injectors (600, 615) coupled to the confinement chamber adjacent a midplane of the confinement chamber and oriented to inject neutral atom beams toward the mid-plane at an angle of about 15° to 25° less than normal to a longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber, and a magnetic system comprising a plurality of quasi-dc coils (432, 434, 436 and positioned around the confinement chamber, the first and second formation sections, and the first and second divertors, first and second set of quasi-dc mirror coils (432, 434, 436 and 444) positioned between the confinement chamber and the first and second formation sections, the method comprising the steps of: forming an FRC about a plasma in the confinement chamber, wherein the FRC plasma is in spaced relation with the wall of the confinement chamber, and maintaining the FRC at or about a constant value without decay by injecting beams of fast neutral atoms from neutral beam injectors into the FRC plasma at an angle of about 15° to 25° less than normal to the longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber and towards the mid-plane of the confinement chamber. first and second diametrically opposed FRC formation sections coupled to the confinement chamber, first and second divertors coupled to the first and second formation sections, one or more of a plurality of plasma guns, one or more biasing electrodes and first and second mirror plugs, wherein the plurality of plasma guns includes first and second axial plasma guns operably coupled to the first and second divertors, the first and second formation sections and the confinement chamber, wherein the one or more biasing electrodes are positioned within one or more of the confinement chamber, the first and second formation sections, and the first and second divertors, and wherein the first and second mirror plugs are positioned between the first and second formation sections and the first and second divertors, a gettering system coupled to the confinement chamber and the first and second divertors, a plurality of neutral atom beam injectors (600, 615) coupled to the confinement chamber adjacent a midplane of the confinement chamber and oriented to inject neutral atom beams toward the mid-plane at an angle of about 15° to 25° less than normal to a longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber, and a magnetic system comprising a plurality of quasi-dc coils (432, 434, 436 and positioned around the confinement chamber, the first and second formation sections, and the first and second divertors, first and second set of quasi-dc mirror coils (432, 434, 436 and 444) positioned between the confinement chamber and the first and second formation sections, the method comprising the steps of: forming an FRC about a plasma in the confinement chamber, wherein the FRC plasma is in spaced relation with the wall of the confinement chamber, and maintaining the FRC at or about a constant value without decay by injecting beams of fast neutral atoms from neutral beam injectors into the FRC plasma at an angle of about 15° to 25° less than normal to the longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber and towards the mid-plane of the confinement chamber. forming an FRC about a plasma in the confinement chamber, wherein the FRC plasma is in spaced relation with the wall of the confinement chamber, and maintaining the FRC at or about a constant value without decay by injecting beams of fast neutral atoms from neutral beam injectors into the FRC plasma at an angle of about 15° to 25° less than normal to the longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber and towards the mid-plane of the confinement chamber.