Structure of cylindrical liners compressing a magnetized D-T plasma to ignition

It has been suggested on several occasions that a fast cylindrical liner (νL≥10⁷ cm/s) can compress a D-T plasma to volume or a spark ignition. Such a compression depends critically on the liner structure. We shall analyze this structure, first using a simple, heuristic model and subsequently comparing it with the results of one-dimensional numerical simulations. We shall then consider how an imploding liner can produce a volume or spark ignition. In the conclusion, it will be argued that the best scheme for ICF is a spark ignition, in which a liner implosion on Z pinch is synchronized with the development of an m=0 instability.