Re: [Phys-L] proton-boron laser fusion

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 06/23/2014 10:41 AM, David Marx wrote:
> I was just reading an article on a new approach to achieve fusion called focus
> fusion.  I was wondering if any plasma fusion experts on the list could
> comment on it and whether it's an approach that is expected to work.

There are two questions there:
 a) Is hydrogen-boron laser fusion a real thing, and
 b) Will this form the basis for a viable power industry.

The answer to the first question is definitely yes.  
 -- The reaction p + ^{11}B --> 3α is a real thing.
 -- That reaction produces no neutrons, which is a
  tremendous advantage in a power plant.  OTOH
  there are minor side-reactions to worry about.
 -- Making the reaction go turns out to be 100,000
  times easier than previously thought.
 -- There has been steady progress in making pulsed
  lasers with super-high peak power.


As to the second question, I have no idea.  It's hard
to tell where the hype ends and the facts begin.  The
answer would require a detailed /comparison/ with the
alternatives, such as covering the entire Gobi desert
with solar cells.

==========================

It's fairly easy to find information on stuff like this
using google /scholar/.  Google scholar results tend to
be far more informative than generic google results.
The name "focus fusion" is not helpful, but more 
descriptive terms can be used:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=proton+boron+fusion&as_ylo=2014
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=hydrogen+boron+fusion&as_ylo=2014

That leads to documents such as:
  http://physics.unsw.edu.au/STAFF/VISITING_FELLOWS%26PROFESSORS/pdf/BlockEnergyEnvir.pdf
  https://phys.unsw.edu.au/STAFF/VISITING_FELLOWS%26PROFESSORS/pdf/LPB%202014%20Banati.pdf