Recent progress in ENN’s proton-boron fusion research

ENN's fusion research is oriented towards energy commercialization. The primary strategy involves integrating p-11B fusion with a spherical torus (ST), leveraging aneutronic reactions to achieve a more compact design and higher performance [1]. After demonstration of solenoid-free plasma startup and current maintenance in EXL-50 [2], the system has upgraded to EXL-50U for higher plasma performance and the studying hydrogen-boron plasma. Our p-¹¹B fusion research is based on three pillars. The first is on the fundamental of p-¹¹B reaction physics, including measurements of cross-section, optimization of alpha particle yield etc [3]. The second is to explore p-¹¹B burning physics in a toroidal magnetic confinement environment, currently focusing on the evaluation of the conditions for p-¹¹B fusion in EHL-2, our next generation device. The third is to study the characteristics of hydrogen-boron plasma, from the perspectives of equilibrium, stability and transport [4]. Recent progress and challenges in these studies will be presented.