Abstract: A reactor and method is disclosed that creates a stabilized, heated plasma and generates a large amount of thermal energy. The initial plasma may be created by heating, either through combustion reactions and/or external heating mechanism, a fuel which is a source of hydrogen ions and air (or oxygen) inside the reactor chamber, and then locally ionizing the hot matter with an external source of radiation, such as a laser and/or an electrical discharge and/or microwave discharge. A gas vortex around the plasma mass may be maintained to control the plasma mass, shape, and location.