Advances in Nonthermal Proton-Boron11 Fusion*

Economical proton-Boron11 fusion may be enabled through nonthermal ion populations [1-3].  These populations may be maintained by rotating plasma sustained by large voltage drops in a mirror geometry [4].  The charged particle traffic described here might be regulated in part by ponderomotive effects [5-6]. Deconfining fast electrons through mirror forces could further improve the concept by suppressing electron radiation [7]. 

[1] E. J. Kolmes, I. E. Ochs, and N. J. Fisch, Wave-Supported Hybrid Beam-Thermal pB11 Fusion, Phys. Plasma 29, 110701 (2022).

[2] I. E. Ochs et al., Improving the Feasibility of Economical Proton-Boron 11 Fusion via Alpha Channeling with a Hybrid Fast and Thermal Proton Scheme, Phys. Rev. E 106 055215 (2022).

[3] I. E. Ochs and N. J. Fisch, Lowering the reactor breakeven requirements for proton-Boron 11 fusion, Physics of Plasmas 31, 012503 (January, 2024).

[4] E. J. Kolmes, I. E. Ochs, and N. J. Fisch, Massive, Long-Lived Electrostatic Potentials in a Rotating Mirror Plasma, Nature Communications 15, 4302 (2024).

[5] T. Rubin et al., Magnetostatic ponderomotive potential in rotating plasma, Phys. Plasma 30, 052501 (2023).

[6]. I. E. Ochs and N. J. Fisch, The Critical Role of Potential Surfaces in Static Ponderomotive End Plugs, Physical Review E 108, 065210 (2023). 

[7] M. E. Mlodik et al., Sensitivity of synchrotron radiation to the superthermal electron population in mildly relativistic plasma, Phys. Plasma 30, 043301 (2023).