Quasistatic compression of a compact torus

We have demonstrated the formation of stable, symmetric, compact-torus (CT) plasma rings and the subsequent stable, twofold radial compression in coaxial conical electrodes with the ring accelerator experiment. The CT is compressed by J×B forces from a capacitor bank discharging across the conical electrodes. During compression, the force of the Bθ acceleration field balances the force of the CT poloidal field against the cones, in good agreement with a 2D code. Power amplification factors of ∼100 may be possible with an opening switch based on this technique.