Aneutronic fusion in a degenerate plasma

Abstract

In a Fermi-degenerate plasma, the electronic stopping of a slow ion is smaller than that given by the classical formula, because some transitions between the electron states are forbidden. The bremsstrahlung losses are then smaller, so that the nuclear burning of an aneutronic fuel is more efficient. Consequently, there occurs a parameter regime in which self-burning is possible. Practical obstacles in this regime that must be overcome before net energy can be realized include the compression of the fuel to an ultra dense state and the creation of a hot spot. +

Boron carbide coatings for neutron detection probed by x-rays, ions, and neutrons to determine thin film quality

“…Alternating local etching with XPS and SIMS allows extending these intrinsically surface limited methods into the sample depth. As SIMS is sensitive to the ion mass, also depth resolution of the ratio of 11 B to 10 B isotopes in the coating is achieved. Etching was performed using a Mini Beam sputter gun operating at 4 kV using Ar process gas.…”

“…Using a scattering geometry with 55 incidence angle of the He 2þ ions, the RBS-edges of 12 C, 11 B, and 10 B can be resolved better for a quantitative determination of their relative amounts. In non-normal incidence, the travel path of the He 2þ -ions within the B 4 C layer, and thus the scattering probability of the He 2þ -ion on 10 B, 11 B, and 12 C, is increased (same principle as for increasing the neutron efficiency of a converter layer). Consequently, the Ti layer as well as the Si substrate is shifted out of the detection range of the incident He-ions and only the signals from C and B remain visible.…”

Current-Drive Efficiency in a Degenerate Plasma

“…This leads to interesting consequences, including higher electrical and heat conductivity [4,5] than would be predicted from the classical model. The large reduction of i-e coupling also makes possible hot-ion regimes suitable for aneutronic fusion [6,7]. The large reduction in e-e [8] and i-e collisions should also affect the generation of current in Fermi-degenerate plasma.…”

Aneutronic pB-Reaction in Magnetized Inertial Confined Plasma of Laser-Accelerated Particles

“…Nevertheless, several approaches were proposed to solve this problem. They are (i) the use of an external magnetic field for the quasi stationary interaction between the colliding proton beam and boron nuclei [5], (ii) initiation of the reaction in a degenerate plasma with a superhigh density of about 10 5 g/cm 3 [6], (iii) action of laser-accelerated proton beams on a preliminarily compressed boron-containing target [7], and (iv) the collision between ponderomotively accelerated thin layers of matter [8]. All these approaches are devoted to reduce the effect of Coulomb breaking of protons and boron nuclei initially accelerated to MeV energies.…”