The mechanism is described as the application of a fast-rising B/sub z/, pinching field around a plasma cloud containing an internal antiparallel B/sub z/ pinching field which causes the internal magnetic field lines to form long closed loops threading a plasma cylinder. The cylinder deforms rapidly to a doughnut with surface currents flowing peripherally to maintain the closed magnetic field configuration. The configuration is identical to the Perhapsatron type pinch and is subject to the same M = 0 (sausage) instability that has produced neutrons in both linear and toroidal pinches. Internal and external (fringing) magnetic probes, Kerr cell photographs, and smear camera photographs have furnished data which allow a logical explanation of the mechanism and its importance in neutron production. (B.O.G.)
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Vernal Josephson (1960) studied this question.