Enhanced proton-boron nuclear fusion cross sections in intense high-frequency laser fields

Lv, Wenjuan; Duan, Hao; Liu, Jie

doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2022.122490

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 28 publications

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“…In literature it is also discussed that up-scattering via elastic collisions of background protons with the fusion fast α particles can also increase the highenergy proton population, leading to the enhancement of fusion yield [43]. Strong electric fields may also affect the fusion yield by increasing the tunneling probability [46]. In addition, high-energy protons with broad spectra would open more inelastic scattering and additional reaction channels with the backgroud carbon-and oxygen nuclei [47][48][49], but our opinion this can be neglected.…”

Section: Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proton-Boron Fusion: A Dark Horse in the Fusion Race Shows Yield Much Beyond Expectation

Zhao,

Wei,

Zhang

et al. 2023

Preprint

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A novel intense beam-driven scheme for high yield of the tri-alpha reaction 11B(p,α)2αwas investigated. We used a foam target made of cellulose triacetate (TAC, C9H16O8) doped with boron.It was then heated volumetrically by soft X-ray radiation from a laser heated hohlraum and turned into a homogenous, and long living plasma. We employed a picosecond laser pulse to generate a high-intensity energetic proton beam via the well-known Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) mechanism. We observed up to 10^10/sr αparticles per laser shot. This constitutes presently the highest yield value normalized to the laser energy on target. The measured fusion yield per proton exceeds the classical expectation of beam-target reactions by up to four orders of magnitude under high proton intensities. This enhancement is attributed to the strong electric fields and nonequilibrium thermonuclear fusion reactions as a result of the new method. Our approach shows opportunities to pursue ignition of aneutronic fusion.

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