Multidipole Magnetic Control of a Planar High-Temperature Atmospheric Plasma: The AEGIS Conceptual Architecture and Theoretical Scaling

The Advanced Electrodynamic Grid & Ionized Shielding (AEGIS) architecture is proposed as a conceptual framework and experimental roadmap for the generation, stabilization, and active control of a large-area, atmospheric-pressure thermal plasma. The proposed architecture integrates a segmented multidipole magnetic-field topology, high-temperature superconducting (REBCO) conductors, radio-frequency (RF) plasma excitation, and active fluid management. Unlike classical vacuum magnetic confinement, AEGIS treats atmospheric plasma as a coupled electromagnetic-fluid system. At atmospheric pressure, the neutral component is highly collisional, dictating that magnetic fields primarily modulate charged-particle ambipolar diffusion while fluid dynamics, thermal gradients, and RF deposition govern the macroscopic boundary. This white paper establishes the governing physical constraints for a nominal planar plasma at 15,000 K. Fundamental scaling limits regarding the Hall parameter in collision-dominated regimes, megawatt-scale volumetric radiative losses, and microsecond hypervelocity interaction timescales are quantified. A staged computational and sub-scale experimental pathway is proposed to empirically evaluate multidipole magnetic influence in high-density atmospheric regimes.