Comments on the Colliding Beam Fusion Reactor Proposed by Rostoker, Binderbauer and Monkhorst for Use with the p-11B Fusion Reaction

Abstract

We examine the various dissipative processes affecting the colliding beam fusion reactor (CBFR) recently proposed by Rostoker, Binderbaner and Monkhorst (RBM) for use with the p-11B fusion reaction. We conclude that the CBFR equilibrium cannot be sustained for long enough to permit net fusion gain, because of the many collisional processes which occur orders of magnitude faster than fusion, and result in particle loss, energy dissipation, and/or detuning of the resonant energy for the p-11B reaction. Fokker Planck analyses of each process are performed. The calculations of RBM are critically reviewed to elucidate the source of disagreements with the present work. We also briefly discuss technology issues, especially the inefficiency of beam trapping in the device, and the unavailability of compact beam sources as assumed by RBM for naval applications.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 30, 1998
Accession Number
ADA356110

Entities

People

  • Mártin Lampe
  • Wallace M. Manheimer

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Diffusion Coefficient
  • Distribution Functions
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Equations
  • Fokker Planck Equations
  • Ion Beams
  • Ions
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Particles
  • Proton Beams
  • Proton Scattering
  • Scattering
  • Thermonuclear Reactions

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.
  • Theoretical Analysis.