Extreme laser pulses for possible development of boron fusion power reactors for clean and lasting energy

TL;DR

This paper explores how extreme laser pulses can significantly enhance boron fusion reactions, potentially enabling clean, compact, and cost-effective energy generation through non-thermal plasma acceleration.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using ultrahigh laser-driven plasma blocks to increase boron fusion energy gains by nine orders of magnitude.

Findings

Laser-driven plasma blocks can initiate boron fusion with high efficiency.

Fusion energy gains are increased by nine orders of magnitude over classical methods.

A design for a compact, clean fusion reactor is proposed.

Abstract

Extreme laser pulses driving non-equilibrium processes in high density plasmas permit an increase of the fusion of hydrogen with the boron isotope 11 by nine orders of magnitude of the energy gains above the classical values. This is the result of initiating the reaction by non-thermal ultrahigh acceleration of plasma blocks by the nonlinear (ponderomotive) force of the laser field, in addition to the avalanche reaction that has now been experimentally and theoretically manifested. The design of a very compact fusion power reactor is scheduled to produce then environmentally fully clean and inexhaustible generation of energy at profitably low costs. The reaction within a volume of cubic millimetres during a nanosecond can only be used for controlled power generation.