Controlling Energy Flow and Loss in p6Li Fusion Plasma

Abstract

The proton-Lithium-6 (p6Li) fusion reaction is significant because it produces energy through charged particles. By selecting this reaction, the problems of tritium processes and 14 MeV neutron fluxes will be reduced. One of the main concerns for p6Li plasma is the control of energy flow and loss that occur in fusion reactor. The calculations of energy balance are essential for investigating the energy flow and loss in p6Li plasma. It has a fundamental role for describing the material conditions in this plasma. Energy production must compete with inevitable losses in plasma. The losses perform a principal role in determining the operating temperature of thermonuclear plasma. Some losses of energy can be minimized by the suitable selection of designing parameters while some are intrinsic in reactant system. Calculations of energy flow and loss suggest an operating point at 800 keV for p6Li plasma. The effect of electron temperature on ion–electron energy transfer and the bremsstrahlung losses is reviewed. It is indicated that the bremsstrahlung radiation losses resulting from large mean electron energies are a serious difficulty for p6Li fusion reactor. It would be highly desirable to reduce the electron temperature below their normal equilibrium values. If the ion–electron energy transfer be reduced from the classical value, the electron temperature and thus bremsstrahlung radiation losses would be reduced substantially and as a result the performance of a p6Li fusion reactor would be improved significantly. Meanwhile, the bremsstrahlung radiation losses can be minimized with suitable mixture for p6Li plasma in a fusion reactor.