Non-thermal laser driven plasma-blocks for proton boron avalanche fusion as direct drive option

Abstract

Fusion energy from protons reacting with 11B, HB11, is extremely difficult or impossible when using thermal ignition by laser irradiation. This changes radically when using picosecond laser pulses with powers above petawatts dominated by nonlinear force driven ultrahigh acceleration of plasma blocks for a non-thermal initiation of igniting solid density HB11 fuel. For a cylindrical trapping of the reaction, laser produced ultrahigh magnetic fields above kiloTesla, have to be combined. The experimentally confirmed highly increased HB11 fusion gains due to avalanche reaction may lead to a scheme of an environmentally clean and economic power reactor.