Speaker
Description
The p+11B→ 3α + 8.7 MeV fusion reaction can be triggered by the interaction of high-power laser pulses with matter. Not only it represents a potential alternative to tritium-based fuels for fusion energy production [1,2], but it is attracting also for many applications such as astrophenter code hereysics [3] and alpha-particle generation for medical treatments [4]. One possible scheme for laser-driven p+11B reactions is to direct a beam of laser-accelerated protons onto a boron sample (the so-called “pitcher-catcher” scheme). This technique was successfully implemented with energetic lasers yielding hundreds to thousands of joules per shot. This is possible on a few large installations and for a limited number of shots. An alternative approach is to exploit high-repetition rate laser-systems at PW-power scale [8], allowing to explore the laser-driven fusion process with hundreds (up to thousands) of laser shots (at more moderate energy), leading to an improved optimization of the diagnostic techniques and an enhanced statistics of the obtained results. Moreover, this approach potentially paves the way to applications where a constant stream of alpha particles is needed. In this work we describe the experiments recently performed on PW-power-scale laser facilities, capable of delivering laser pulses at high-repetition-rate, namely the L3 ELIMAIA laser system at ELI-Beamlines and the VEGA III laser system at CLPU. We aim at providing a detailed insight of the effectiveness of the laser-driven p+11B fusion for alpha particle production. We will discuss the challenges of implementing this experimental scheme, highlight its critical aspects, in terms of detection of fusion products and assessment of its performance as laser-driven alpha particle source[5,6]. We will also show applicative results that indicate that this scheme is potentially viable for the production of radioisotopes for medical purpose [7,8].
References
[1] H. Hora et al, High Power Laser Sci. Engin. 4, e35 (2016)
[2] V.P. Krainov, Laser Phys. Lett. 2, No. 2, 89–93 (2005)
[3] A. Bonasera et al., Proc. of the 4th Int. Conf. on Fission and Prop. of Neutron Rich Nuclei, 11–17 Nov 2007, Sanibel Island, USA
[4] G.A.P. Cirrone et al, Scientific Reports 8, 1141 (2018)
[5] M. Sciscio et al., Matter and Radiation at Extremes 10, 037402 (2025)
[6] M. Huault et al., Physics of Plasmas 32, 013102 (2025)
[7] M. R. D. Rodrigues et al., Matter and radiation at Extremes 9, 037203 (2025)
[8] K. Batani et al., High Power Laser Science and Engineering 13, e11 (2025)
Acknowledgment
This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium, funded by the European Union via the Euratom Research and Training Programme (Grant Agreement No 101052200 — EUROfusion). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
