Method and apparatus for heating and compressing plasma

A thermonuclear reactor of the trisops type wherein plasma vortex structures are generated by coaxial theta pinch guns, the plasma vortex structures being compressed and amplified by secondary compression provided by the use of compression coils acting through a stabilized collapsing lithium or flibe, or other suitable molten liner. The molten metal liner is deposited on a refractory metal mesh held normally adjacent the inside surface of a suitable vacuum chamber. This mesh is held near the inside surface of the vacuum chamber by an articulated collapsible cage assembly which is collapsible toward the center line of the chamber, and after collapse returns the mesh to an expanded configuration adjacent the wall of the chamber