Comment on “ENN's roadmap for proton-boron fusion based on spherical torus” [Phys. Plasmas 31, 062507 (2024)]

Abstract

This comment discusses the feasibility of hot ion mode Ti/Te=4 for proton–boron fusion, which is critical for the roadmap proposed in Liu et al. [Phys. Plasmas 31, 062507 (2024)]. The hot ion mode Ti/Te=4 has been calculated to be far from accessible (Ti/Te<1.5 for Ti=150 keV) under the most optimal conditions if fusion provides the heating [Xie, Introduction to Fusion Ignition Principles: Zeroth Order Factors of Fusion Energy Research (USTC Press, Hefei, 2023)], i.e., that all fusion power serves to heat the ions and that electrons acquire energy only through interactions with ions. We also discuss if hot ion mode of Ti/Te=4 could be achieved by an ideal heating method, which is much more efficient than fusion itself (near 20 times fusion power for Ti=150 keV) and only heats the ions, whether it makes sense economically.