Features of spherical torus p 11B burning plasmas

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Peng, Y. -K. M., Ishida, A., Sun, T., Liu, W., Huang, H., Shi, Y., Liu, B., Guo, D., Li, Z., Luo, D., Xiao, X., Zhao, G., Liu, M.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Peng, Y. -K. M.
Ishida, A.
Sun, T.
Liu, W.
Huang, H.
Shi, Y.
Liu, B.
Guo, D.
Li, Z.
Luo, D.
Xiao, X.
Zhao, G.
Liu, M.
author_facet Peng, Y. -K. M.
Ishida, A.
Sun, T.
Liu, W.
Huang, H.
Shi, Y.
Liu, B.
Guo, D.
Li, Z.
Luo, D.
Xiao, X.
Zhao, G.
Liu, M.
contents A spherical torus (ST) p B11 plasma model that satisfies multi-magnetofluid force balance is developed, which includes small fractions of suprathermal ions with temperatures around 0.5 MeV and suprathermal electrons in the MeV range. Alongside the primary thermal plasma with ion temperatures exceeding 100 keV and densities above 10E20 m-3, these components enhance fusion reaction rates by leveraging the p B11 double-peak fusion cross section. Suprathermal ions and strong toroidal rotation driven by neutral beam injection have been observed in devices such as START, MAST, NSTX, Globus-M2, and ST40. Central-solenoid-free plasma initiation, ramp-up, and sustainment were tested on EXL-50 and replicated on EXL-50U with partial central induction, demonstrating efficient current drive and consistent with the multi-magnetofluid equilibrium model. Motivated by ENN's aneutronic commercial fusion roadmap, this paper presents a rotating, thermally un-equilibrated ST p B11 plasma with unique properties: fluid components experience separate balance under centripetal, electrostatic, and Lorentz forces with common electric and magnetic fields, leading to large rotation speed differences between thermal boron ions and suprathermal protons; a large outboard region with magnetic well and omnigeneity is created, affecting neoclassical transport and gradient-driven turbulence; suprathermal charged particles can extend beyond the last closed flux surface and be limited by plasma-facing components, influencing recycling and pedestal conditions; and the superposition of these plasma components modifies sources and sinks of free energy, prompting renewed evaluation of stability, turbulence, transport, heating, current drive, and flux diffusion. Challenges and opportunities for sustained burn are discussed for a compact p B11 ST with 1.4-meter major radius, 13-MA current, and 3-T toroidal field.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_04002
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Features of spherical torus p 11B burning plasmas
Peng, Y. -K. M.
Ishida, A.
Sun, T.
Liu, W.
Huang, H.
Shi, Y.
Liu, B.
Guo, D.
Li, Z.
Luo, D.
Xiao, X.
Zhao, G.
Liu, M.
Plasma Physics
A spherical torus (ST) p B11 plasma model that satisfies multi-magnetofluid force balance is developed, which includes small fractions of suprathermal ions with temperatures around 0.5 MeV and suprathermal electrons in the MeV range. Alongside the primary thermal plasma with ion temperatures exceeding 100 keV and densities above 10E20 m-3, these components enhance fusion reaction rates by leveraging the p B11 double-peak fusion cross section. Suprathermal ions and strong toroidal rotation driven by neutral beam injection have been observed in devices such as START, MAST, NSTX, Globus-M2, and ST40. Central-solenoid-free plasma initiation, ramp-up, and sustainment were tested on EXL-50 and replicated on EXL-50U with partial central induction, demonstrating efficient current drive and consistent with the multi-magnetofluid equilibrium model. Motivated by ENN's aneutronic commercial fusion roadmap, this paper presents a rotating, thermally un-equilibrated ST p B11 plasma with unique properties: fluid components experience separate balance under centripetal, electrostatic, and Lorentz forces with common electric and magnetic fields, leading to large rotation speed differences between thermal boron ions and suprathermal protons; a large outboard region with magnetic well and omnigeneity is created, affecting neoclassical transport and gradient-driven turbulence; suprathermal charged particles can extend beyond the last closed flux surface and be limited by plasma-facing components, influencing recycling and pedestal conditions; and the superposition of these plasma components modifies sources and sinks of free energy, prompting renewed evaluation of stability, turbulence, transport, heating, current drive, and flux diffusion. Challenges and opportunities for sustained burn are discussed for a compact p B11 ST with 1.4-meter major radius, 13-MA current, and 3-T toroidal field.
title Features of spherical torus p 11B burning plasmas
topic Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.04002