Plasma compression system utilizing poloidal field coils

A plasma compression system comprising:

• a metallic vessel configured to receive and contain a plasma;
• a metallic liquid liner in the vessel and at least partially bounding a plasma compression region having a longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of drivers configured to move the liquid liner inwardly towards the longitudinal axis to compress the plasma in the plasma compression region;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive coils outside the plasma compression region and configured to generate a poloidal magnetic field in the liquid liner and the plasma compression region, at least some of the poloidal magnetic field within the plasma compression region extending along the longitudinal axis, and at least some of the poloidal magnetic field in the liquid liner moving inwardly towards the longitudinal axis with the liquid liner as the liquid liner moves towards the longitudinal axis.

A method comprising:

• injecting a magnetized toroidal plasma into a plasma compression region, the plasma compression region at least partially bounded by a metallic liquid liner having a longitudinal axis;
• generating a poloidal magnetic field within the liquid liner and the plasma compression region, at least some of the poloidal magnetic field in the plasma compression region extending along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• moving the liquid liner towards the longitudinal axis thereby reducing a volume of the plasma compression region containing the plasma and compressing the plasma, at least some of the poloidal magnetic field in the liquid liner moving inwardly towards the longitudinal axis with the liquid liner as the liquid liner moves towards the longitudinal axis.