Systems and methods for merging and compressing compact tori

A method of merging and compressing compact tori plasma within in a system comprising a central chamber, diametrically opposed formation sections, one or more acceleration stages, and a plurality compression stages interposing the formation sections and adjacent acceleration stages, and the central chamber and adjacent acceleration stages, the steps comprising

• forming and accelerating compact tori in a staged symmetric sequence within the formation sections and the acceleration stages towards a mid-plane of the central chamber,
• passively adiabatically compressing the compact tori within the compression sections, and
• magnetically compressing a merged compact tori within the central chamber.

A method of merging and compressing compact tori plasma within in a system comprising a central chamber, a formation section, one or more acceleration stages, and one or more compression stages interposing the formation section and an adjacent acceleration stage and adjacent acceleration stages, the steps comprising

• forming and accelerating a first compact toroid in a staged sequence within the formation section and the one or more acceleration stages towards a mid-plane of the central chamber to collide and merge with a second compact toroid,
• passively adiabatically compressing the first compact toroid within the one or more compression stages, and
• magnetically compressing a merged compact toroid of the first and second compact tori within the central chamber.

56-57. (canceled)