Application of pulsed power to the compression of magnetized plasmas

Developments in the last 20 years in electromagnetic launchers for the US Navy cause us to consider the possibility of using an accelerated projectile as a means for compressing a magnetized plasma. We present a short historical review of the compression of magnetized plasmas and current status of pulsed power technology that might be most usefully applied. We present a summary of possible concepts where such a driver could be of use in fusion energy sciences, particularly to address critical physics issues. One specific scenario is considered analytically and computationally: use of a coil to adiabatically compress a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC).