The 8th International Conference on Matter and Radiation at Extremes (ICMRE2025)

Proton-boron fusion, as a highly promising field in future fusion energy research, has made enhancing the energy gain of proton-boron fusion a focal issue in the current field of fusion. This study innovatively proposes a new method, which involves driving proton-boron plasma into a "hot-ion" mode through intense proton beams, aiming to achieve a higher fusion energy gain and a reduced ratio of radiation loss. We have employed a newly developed hybrid-PIC simulation program that implemented a multi-component energy deposition calculation module, to deeply investigate the ion heating effect of intense focused TNSA proton beams on proton-boron plasma, and to reveal the promotional effect of the "hot-ion" mode on the ignition of proton-boron fusion. The research findings indicate that the extremely high ion-electron temperature ratio (T_i/T_e ≈ 2) formed by the intense proton beams in the focal area significantly reduces the ignition threshold (i.e., the triple product), theoretically lowering the difficulty of achieving proton-boron fusion. The results of this study provide a new perspective for enhancing the energy gain of proton-boron fusion and are of great significance for promoting the development of proton-boron fusion technology research.

proton-boron fusion,stopping power,'hot-ion' mode