Preliminary measurements of alpha particles produced by proton-boron nuclear fusion reaction on Z-pinch type discharges

Abstract The 11 B(p, α )2 α fusion reaction occurring in hydrogen-boron fuel seems to be the most promising, therefore it is currently being investigated in various systems such as magnetic confinement fusion, inertial confinement fusion, high-power lasers and Z-pinches (Ribeyre et al 2022 Sci. Rep. 12 4665), (Picciotto et al 2014 Phys. Rev. X 4 031030–1). As this reaction does not produce neutrons and the energy released is carried only by alpha particles, it offers the possibility of direct conversion of kinetic energy into electricity (Lerner et al 2011 J. Fusion Energy 30 367). The presented work demonstrates preliminary results of measurements of alpha particles produced by the aforementioned reaction in Z-pinch-type facilities. High-voltage, high-current discharges in Plasma Focus-type devices lead to the creation of a dense column of high-temperature magnetized plasma, which emits pulsed electron- and ion-beams, x-ray pulses etc. The results shown were obtained at the PF-360 and PF 1000 facilities, filled with H 2 – gas. The experimental campaign was conducted to test the possibility of producing intense beams of high-energy protons that can induce a considerable number of the 11 B(p, α )2 α reaction (Scholz et al 2019 J. Fusion Energy 38 522).

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