This comment discusses the feasibility of hot ion mode for proton–boron fusion, which is critical for the roadmap proposed in Liu et al. [Phys. Plasmas 31, 062507 (2024)]. The hot ion mode has been calculated to be far from accessible ( for ) under the most optimal conditions if fusion provides the heating [Xie, Introduction to Fusion Ignition Principles: Zeroth Order Factors of Fusion Energy Research (USTC Press, Hefei, 2023)], i.e., that all fusion power serves to heat the ions and that electrons acquire energy only through interactions with ions. We also discuss if hot ion mode of could be achieved by an ideal heating method, which is much more efficient than fusion itself (near 20 times fusion power for ) and only heats the ions, whether it makes sense economically.
Nuclear fusion with advanced fuels has always been conjectured to be the final resolution for commercial fusion, among which proton–boron fusion is attracting growing attention in recent years. Operating in hot ion mode is one of the proposed approaches to commercial proton–boron fusion.
As was discussed in Ref. 1, hot ion mode with high temperature difference between electrons and ions of proton–boron fusion is hard to maintain to the extent that even if all fusion power is converted to heat ions and electrons only acquire energy through their interactions with ions, for , the proposed operating temperature for proton–boron fusion, . This ratio decreases as decreases.
Here we just translate the content on page 49 of Ref. 1.
“We make the simplest calculation to estimate the electron temperature in the hot ion mode of proton–boron fusion.
The relationship between and for hot ion mode of proton–boron fusion. Under the most optimal condition, from Fig. 3.17(a) in Ref. 1.
The relationship between and for hot ion mode of proton–boron fusion. Under the most optimal condition, from Fig. 3.17(a) in Ref. 1.
It is apparent that even the idealized that enables is way larger than fusion power.
In fact, after slight extension of the axis in Fig. 3.17(b) of Ref. 1, i.e., 3, it is already clear that for , hot ion mode of demands a heating that is about five times the fusion power (Fig. 3).
The power of energy exchange between electrons and ions vs fusion power for . Adapted from Fig. 3.17(b) of Ref. 1.
The power of energy exchange between electrons and ions vs fusion power for . Adapted from Fig. 3.17(b) of Ref. 1.
The situation is, therefore, very awkward: if electron temperature is high, Bremsstrahlung radiation is significant; and if the electron temperature is kept to be low, the power to sustain hot ion mode would be much larger than fusion power. Now imagine that we have finally succeeded in finding such an ideal heating method, a question emerges naturally: Why do we not just use its power than bother to do fusion?
This analysis also leads to a question on the validity of the scaling law for the energy confinement time of proton–boron fusion.4 Were it rigorous, the fusion energy gain factor Q calculated from the triproduct or the power balance with term would be large.4 However if we calculate Q directly, then it is vastly smaller. If we were not lucky enough to find such an ideal heating, does not exist at all for proton–boron fusion with .
We thank Dr. Xie for the permission to reproduce the figures in his book.
