Patent ID: 8253057

Claim:
A method of creating a free-standing wall of plasma, comprising the steps of: initiating the formation of plasma at a first location which said plasma is subject to a pinch effect from the beginning of the plasma's formation, and said plasma flows through a space between said first location and a second location that is spaced from said first location; generating an electromagnetic field externally of said plasma that acts on said plasma during said formation of said plasma at said first location wherein said electromagnetic field has Lorentz forces associated therewith which effect rotation of said plasma through said space about an axis; and balancing of thermodynamic forces and centrifugal forces acting upon the plasma with Lorentz forces associated with said electromagnetic field acting upon the plasma and other Lorentz forces associated with the pinch effect so as to confine said plasma in such a manner so as to form a sheet-like structure extending between said first and second locations.