23 / 2026-03-04 09:43:46

A Concept for p-11B Fusion Combining Laser-Driven Proton Acceleration and Magnetic Confinement

氢硼聚变,磁约束聚变,激光离子加速

激光与粒子束聚变、磁驱动聚变 > 其他聚变途径

Proton-boron fusion (p-¹¹B→3α + 8.7MeV) offers a promising path toward neutron-free energy^[1]; however, achieving ignition under thermal equilibrium remains a significant challenge due to the high ion temperatures required (>100 keV), where bremsstrahlung losses typically exceed fusion power gain.^[2] To circumvent this, we propose an innovative scheme that integrates Laser-Driven Proton Acceleration (LPA) with Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) infrastructure.

A central challenge in this hybrid approach is the delivery of target material into the high-temperature plasma core. One highly feasible implementation utilizes the existing pellet injection systems of magnetic confinement devices as a carrier for in-situ targetry. By focusing an ultra-intense pulsed laser onto the ablation cloud of a high-speed H or H-B pellet deep within the plasma core, we utilize the density gradient of the cloud—specifically near the critical density surface—as a "flying target." This interaction triggers Collisionless Shock Acceleration (CSA) or similar mechanisms to generate high-flux proton with sufficient energy.^[3]

Instead of bulk heating, this scheme targets the 675 keV p-¹¹B resonance, proposing 'fast protons' as a localized 'match' to trigger fusion potentially without extreme bulk temperatures. We present PIC simulations of the laser-preplasma interaction, providing a roadmap for p-¹¹B ignition by leveraging laser-driven sources within magnetic confinement platforms.