The use of rf electromagnetic fields to confine dense high-temperature plasma has been considered 'unpromising' because of the high electric fields required (greater than one million V/cm), and primarily because the ohmic energy losses in normal-conducting cavity walls are huge in comparison to all other energies involved, including possible thermonuclear yields. The very high fields required are today within reach. The advent of superconducting cavities with Q's exceeding 10 billion reduces ohmic wall losses to a negligible value (approximately 1/100) of thermonuclear yield. Two other problems arise, however: (a) what are the effects of rf interactions with the plasma sheath, and (b) is it possible to maintain a superconducting surface in the presence of plasma bremsstrahlung. Inadequate information exists with which to draw firm conclusions on whether or not these problems preclude the possibility of an rf-confined thermonuclear reactor. Many of the physics questions may possibly be studied in a laser-produced plasma experiment, such as the one described. (Author)
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