Analysis of a magneto-inertial fusion concept with a field-reversed configuration for proton-boron fuel

Abstract

The $$ p-^{11}B$$ reaction as much cleaner alternative in fusion reactors has been proposed in this paper. Since this reaction does not involve any radioactive material and also does not release neutrons, it has particularly become attractive for fusion research. Compared with the conventional inertial confinement fusion (ICF), magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) approaches take advantage of an embedded magnetic field to improve plasma energy confinement by reducing thermal conduction. Furthermore, Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) is a toroidal plasma configuration with toroidal current, poloidal magnetic field, and ideally no toroidal field. In this paper, the dynamics of liner compression and fusion burning for $$p-^{11}B$$ fuel have been analyzed and simulated in 2.4-dimensional mode under the initial physical conditions. Moreover, the fusion gain, liner parameters and the magnetized target parameters of $$p-^{11}B$$ fuel have been compared with those of the $$D-T$$ fusion fuel.