A new published paper from CA21128-PROBONO, by I. C. E. Turcu, D. Margarone, L. Giuffrida, A. Picciotto, C. Spindloe, A. P. L. Robinson, D. Batani in Journal of Instrumentation, Volume 19, March 2024

Keywords: Ion sources (positive ions, negative ions, electron cyclotron resonance (ECR), electron beam (EBIS)); Plasma generation (laser-produced, RF, x ray-produced); Laser-driven Proton-Boron Fusion; Alpha Sources Driven by Lasers; Proton-Boron Fusion; Borane fuels for P-B Fusion; Laser-Driven P-B Fusion, Laser produced Radioisotopes, Ammonia Borane, Diborane

Borane (BmHn), Hydrogen rich, Proton Boron fusion fuel materials for high yield laser-driven Alpha sources

I. C. E. Turcu, D. Margarone, L. Giuffrida, A. Picciotto, C. Spindloe, A. P. L. Robinson, D. Batani

Journal of Instrumentation, Volume 19, March 2024

https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/19/03/C03065

 

Abstract: We propose for the first time, a new fuel-material for laser-driven Proton Boron (P-B) fusion nuclear reactions. We propose, Hydrogen rich, Borane (BmHn) materials as fusion fuel as compared to Boron Nitride (BN) presently used. We estimate more than 10-fold increase in the yield of nuclear fusion reactions, and Alpha-prticle flux, when, for example Ammonia Borane (BNH6) laser-target material will be used compared to the state of the art normalized flux ∼108 Alphas/sr/J from BN targets. BNH6 contains ∼1000× higher concentration of Hydrogen compared to BN. We report the manufacture of the first solid-pellets Ammonia Borane laser-targets. To obtain high Flux Alpha sources from repetitive lasers we propose new BNH6 target geometries: liquid (molten) droplets/jets; or translated tape- or disc-targets coated with BNH6 powder. Targets would be irradiated in low pressure, ambient buffer gas. To enhance the fusion/Alpha yield of ultra-high intensity PetaWatt laser-target interaction we propose nano- and micro-structured Borane targets. As applications, we propose to use the Alpha-driven nuclear reactions inside the laser-driven Borane targets for new schemes to produce short-lived medical radioisotopes. Such laser-driven radioisotope beamlines would be installed directly in hospitals. Borane materials, like Diborane (6), B2H6, are also proposed as nuclear-fuels for laser-driven Proton-Boron fusion energy generation. The high dilution of Boron in Hydrgen B/H = 33% would need to be further enahnced to B/H < 15% to cut radiation losses from the hot and dense fusion pellet.

Cite:
I. C. E. Turcu, D. Margarone, L. Giuffrida, A. Picciotto, C. Spindloe, A. P. L. Robinson, D. Batani, "Borane (B m H n ), Hydrogen rich, Proton Boron fusion fuel materials for high yield laser-driven Alpha sources". J. Instrum., 19(03), C03065. doi: 10.1088/1748-0221/19/03/C03065  J. Instrum., 19(03), C03065. doi: 10.1088/1748-0221/19/03/C03065


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