The Use of Hypervelocity Projectiles as Drivers for the Compression of a Magnetized Plasma

Summary form only given. Developments in the last 20 years in electromagnetic launchers for the US Navy cause us to reconsider the possibility of using a projectile accelerated on a rail as a means for compressing a magnetized plasma. We present a short historical review of hypervelocity impact fusion and current status of rail gun research (and pulsed power technology that might be most usefully applied). We will present a summary of possible concepts where such a driver could be of use in fusion energy sciences, particularly to access regimes of high energy density. Two specific scenarios are considered analytically: use of a magnetized target for partial and full compression of a magnetized target (such as a field reversed configuration).