Patent Number: US 12,418,973 B2 Title: Apparatus and methods for generating a pulsating, high-strength magnetic field Inventors: David Kirtley, Seattle, WA (US); Richard Milroy, Sammamish, WA (US); Anthony Pancotti, Kenmore, WA (US); Christopher James Pihl, Woodinville, WA (US); and George Votroubek, Monroe, WA (US) Assignee: Helion Energy, Inc., Everett, WA (US) Filed by: Helion Energy, Inc., Everett, WA (US) Filing Date: Dec. 4, 2023 Application Number: 18/528,349 Relationship to Other Applications: Application 18/528,349 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/032276, filed on Jun. 3, 2022. Priority Claim: Claims priority of provisional application 63/196,474, filed on Jun. 3, 2021. Prior Publication: US 2024/0107652 A1, Mar. 28, 2024 International Classification: Int. Cl. H05H 1/14 (2006.01) Cooperative Patent Classification: CPC H05H 1/14 (2013.01) Total Claims: 25 Claims 1. A method of confining a plasma, the method comprising: - injecting the plasma into a container; - applying a first plurality of currents to a plurality of magnetic coils that are arranged to create a magnetic field within the container, wherein the magnetic field prepares the plasma in a first state, wherein a radius of a separatrix of the plasma in the first state has a first radial value and a length of the separatrix has a first length value when the plasma is in the first state; - applying a second plurality of currents to the plurality of magnetic coils that changes the magnetic field to transition the plasma from the first state to a second state, wherein the radius of the separatrix has a second radial value in the second state that is less than the first radial value and the separatrix has a second length value in the second state; and - applying a third plurality of currents to the plurality of magnetic coils that changes the magnetic field when the plasma transitions from the second state to a third state in which the plasma has more energy than in the second state and begins expanding beyond at least the second length value, wherein the third plurality of currents are selected to create a magnetic field that resists expansion of the radius of the separatrix from the second radial value over at least a portion of the length of the separatrix while the length of the separatrix increases beyond the second length value.