Patent ID: 6891911

Claim:
A method of forming a magnetic field with field reversed configuration (FRC) topology, comprising the steps of energizing a plurality of field coils extending about a vessel, forming a magnetic guide field extending axially within the vessel, the guide field including first and second radial magnetic field components in spaced relation to axially confine there between plasma injected into the vessel, axially injecting plasma along the axial guide field and forming an annular plasma layer within the vessel, the plasma comprising charged particles including a plurality of electrons and a plurality of ions, energizing a betatron flux coil concentric with a principle axis of the vessel by running current through the coil, increasing the current running through the coil causing a change in axial flux in the interior of the coil, creating an azimuthal electric field within the vessel due to the change in axial flux, rotating the annular layer of plasma within the vessel, generating a current due to the rotating plasma, creating a magnetic poloidal self-field surrounding the rotating plasma, wherein field lines external to the annular plasma layer extend in the same direction as field lines of the guide field and field lines internal to the annular plasma layer extend in a direction opposite to the field lines of the guide field, and increasing the self field to a magnitude at least comparable to the guide field and sufficient to cause field reversal.