The calculations and results presented in the comment by Li1 are correct, as they are performed using the formulas and findings presented in the study by Xie,2 who is one of the key authors of the paper by Liu et al.3 However, the arguments and conclusions in the comment are based on a misunderstanding and do not provide any new insights to the paper by Liu et al.3
In our paper,3 we have clearly articulated that p-B fusion presents significant challenges, with the hot ion mode being just one of several issues that need resolution. The solution requires more than basic calculations from a simple model. It involves complex physics, including NBI+ICRF (neutral beam injection and ion cyclotron range of frequency) heating, alpha channeling, potential nonlinear enhancement of fusion reactivity, and other advanced concepts that are yet to be fully developed and validated in future research.
Furthermore, it is clearly stated in our works2,3 that almost all fusion roadmaps face a series of challenges. Once a roadmap is chosen, the next critical steps are to identify all major challenges and address them systematically.
