Fusion approaches based on self-magnetic field confinement

In nuclear fusion, hot plasma must satisfy the Lawson conditions. Fusion reactors are restricted also by the energy passing through reactor walls and available confinement field intensity. Fusion approach can be classified into three types according to density or sustaining time. It is important to distinguish self magnetic field confinement from external magnetic field confinement. In the former, solenoid coils are not necessary, therefore, magnetic field and density are not limited. The research is divided into four periods, before 1960, until early 1970s, after the Scyllac project and upto now, and the state in respective periods is reported. The pulsed fusion approaches based on self magnetic field such as dense, slender Z-pinches, fast liner compressions and plasma focus were in the investigation phase again. The fusion criteria by dense, slender Z-pinches and the problems in them, the target and difficulties of plasma focus and its problems as a fusion approach, the classification of liner compressions and fast liner compression are described. Now is the new period to search for and examine the new methods based on self magnetic field fusion approach. (K.I.)