On a fusion chain reaction via suprathermal ions in high-density H–¹¹B plasma

The $^{11}$B$(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ fusion reaction is particularly attractive for energy production purposes because of its aneutronic character and the absence radioactive species among reactants products. Its exploitation in thermonuclear regime, however, appears to be prohibitive due low reactivity $^{11}$B fuel at temperatures up 100 keV. A chain sustained by elastic collisions between alpha particles ions, this way scattered suprathermal energies, has been proposed as a possible route overcome limitation. Based on simple model, work investigates reproduction process an infinite, non-degenerate plasma, wide range densities which are interest laser-driven experiments ($10^{24} \lesssim n_e 10^{28} {\rm cm}^{-3}$, $T_e 100$ keV, $T_i \sim$ 1 keV). In particular, cross section data $\alpha$-$p$ scattering include nuclear interaction have used. multiplication factor, $k_\infty$, increases markedly with electron temperature less significantly plasma density. However, even highest density considered, despite more than twofold increase inclusion scattering, $k_\infty$ turns out order $10^{-2}$ only. general, values very close needed confined scheme enhance suprathermal-to-thermonuclear yield factors $10^3$-$10^4$.