On the implementation of a chain nuclear reaction of thermonuclear fusion on the basis of the p+{sup 11}B process

Journal Article · Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics of Atomic Nuclei

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063778815040031· OSTI ID:22472188

Belyaev, V. S. ^[1]; Zagreev, B. V.; Matafonov, A. P. ^[1]

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1. Russian Space Agency, Central Research Institute for Machine Building (TsNIIMash) (Russian Federation)

Various theoretical and experimental schemes for implementing a thermonuclear reactor on the basis of the p+{sup 11}B reaction are considered. They include beam collisions, fusion in degenerate plasmas, ignition upon plasma acceleration by ponderomotive forces, and the irradiation of a solid-state target from {sup 11}B with a proton beam under conditions of a Coulomb explosion of hydrogen microdrops. The possibility of employing ultra-short high-intensity laser pulses to initiate the p+{sup 11}B reaction under conditions far from thermodynamic equilibrium is discussed. This and some other weakly radioactive thermonuclear reactions are promising owing to their ecological cleanness—there are virtually no neutrons among fusion products. Nuclear reactions that follow the p+{sup 11}B reaction may generate high-energy protons, sustaining a chain reaction, and this is an advantage of the p+{sup 11}B option. The approach used also makes it possible to study nuclear reactions under conditions close to those in the early Universe or in the interior of stars.

• OSTI ID: 22472188
• Journal Information: Physics of Atomic Nuclei, Vol. 78, Issue 5; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7788
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BERYLLIUM 11 TARGET
BORON 11
CHAIN REACTIONS
IMPLEMENTATION
IRRADIATION
NEUTRONS
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PONDEROMOTIVE FORCE
PROTON BEAMS
PROTON REACTIONS
PROTONS
STARS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
UNIVERSE