Fusion-reactor aspects of the compact torus

This paper summarizes several studies of fusion reactors based on the compact torus (CT). A wide variety of reactor configurations can be projected within present understanding of the possible types of CT and their macroscopic stability and confinement properties. Three types of CT are considered here, the field-reversed-configuration having B/sub Toroidal/ = 0, the Spheromak with B/sub T/ not equal to 0, and CT's formed with particle rings. For each type, either fixed or moving-ring possibilities are offered along with pulsed or steady operation. In all cases the CT configuration lends itself to simplified blanket and coil design. In certain, important cases a reactor-scale CT is predicted to produce small unit power (10-100 MW/sub e/) facilitating small-scale pilot plants and eventual modularity