Status and perspectives of the FUSION INFN project for the study and optimization of the $^{11}\text{B}(\text{p},\alpha)2\alpha$ nuclear fusion reaction for Inertial Confinement applications

Abstract The FUSION project (an acronym for FUsion StudIes of prOton boron Neutron-less reaction in laser-generated plasma) was launched in 2022 by researchers from INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) and ENEA. This project marks the first scientific initiative funded by INFN in the field of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). The main objectives of FUSION are to develop a new generation of solid targets designed to enhance the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ fusion reaction rate, being this reaction a potential candidate for future ICF schemes. FUSION will also focus on designing novel diagnostic techniques for measuring reaction products and, ultimately, estimating alpha and proton cross-sections in a plasma environment. The project will be carried out through two experimental campaigns at a laser facility equipped with a high-energy, long-pulse (picosecond) laser. In the proposed experimental setup, the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ reaction will be triggered simultaneously ‘in target’ by the protons generated in the laser matter interaction and 11 B present in the same expanding plasma and in the ‘pitcher-catcher’ configuration. In FUSION, a set of measurements will also be dedicated to a first estimation of the proton and alpha-stopping power in a plasma. FUSION will enable a comprehensive understanding of the reactions and will help in optimize the conditions for future applications in inertial nuclear fusion with the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ reaction.

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Publication Details

Journal
Laser and Particle Beams
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/lpb.2025.10001
Primary Topic
Nuclear Physics and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Status and perspectives of the FUSION INFN project for the study and optimization of the $^{11}\text{B}(\text{p},\alpha)2\alpha$ nuclear fusion reaction for Inertial Confinement applications

M. Nocente, Mariacristina Guarrera, M. Alonzo, L. Guardo et al.
Laser and Particle Beams
Nuclear Physics and Applications
article

Status and perspectives of the FUSION INFN project for the study and optimization of the $^{11}\text{B}(\text{p},\alpha)2\alpha$ nuclear fusion reaction for Inertial Confinement applications

M. Nocente, Mariacristina Guarrera, M. Alonzo, L. Guardo, S. K. Singh, C. Verona, S. Mirabella, M. Cipriani, A. Trifirò, Gustavo Messina, G. Lanzalone, Giada Petringa, Shubham Agarwal, Antonino Scandurra, P. Tchórz, P Gajdoš, Valentina Iacono, L. Giuffrida, A. Picciotto, F. Odorici, G. Pasquali, T. Chodukowski, F. Filippi, D. Bortot, Pooja Devi, S. Arjmand, Ali Hassan, S. Tudisco, Roberto Catalano, M. Krupka, L. Juha, M. Krůs, Giovanni Morello, R. Rinaldi, D. Margarone, G.A.P. Cirrone, C. Altana, Nunzia Gallo, Luca Salvatore, T. Pisarczyk, C. Ciampi, A. Pappalardo, F. Consoli, M. Rosiński, Michal Cervenak, Armando Raso, G. Cuttone, David Ettel, R. Dudžák, M. Scisciò, Z. Rusiniak, A. Bonasera, J. Krása, Libero Palladino, E. Turcu, L. Malferrari, Farmesk Abubaker, Edoardo Domenicone, Benoist Grau, Nicolò Macaluso
article en

Abstract

Abstract The FUSION project (an acronym for FUsion StudIes of prOton boron Neutron-less reaction in laser-generated plasma) was launched in 2022 by researchers from INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) and ENEA. This project marks the first scientific initiative funded by INFN in the field of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). The main objectives of FUSION are to develop a new generation of solid targets designed to enhance the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ fusion reaction rate, being this reaction a potential candidate for future ICF schemes. FUSION will also focus on designing novel diagnostic techniques for measuring reaction products and, ultimately, estimating alpha and proton cross-sections in a plasma environment. The project will be carried out through two experimental campaigns at a laser facility equipped with a high-energy, long-pulse (picosecond) laser. In the proposed experimental setup, the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ reaction will be triggered simultaneously ‘in target’ by the protons generated in the laser matter interaction and 11 B present in the same expanding plasma and in the ‘pitcher-catcher’ configuration. In FUSION, a set of measurements will also be dedicated to a first estimation of the proton and alpha-stopping power in a plasma. FUSION will enable a comprehensive understanding of the reactions and will help in optimize the conditions for future applications in inertial nuclear fusion with the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ reaction.

Laser and Particle BeamsVol. 43
National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (IT), University of Messina (IT), University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (GB), University of Salento (IT), Charles University (CZ), Fondazione Bruno Kessler (IT), Università degli Studi di Enna Kore (IT), University of L'Aquila (IT), Italian Institute of Technology (IT), University of Catania (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics And Applications (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Lecce (IT), Innovation Engineering (Italy) (IT), Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plasma Physics (CZ), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata (IT), Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale (FR), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Catania (IT), Fondazione Politecnico di Milano (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (IT), FZU ‒ Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (CZ), Centro Siciliano di Fisica Nucleare e di Struttura della Materia (IT), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules (FR), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Milano (IT), Policlinico Tor Vergata (IT), Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (PL), Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (RO), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bologna (IT), Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IT), Czech Technical University in Prague (CZ), University of Florence (IT), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT), Texas A&M University (US)
UK Research and Innovation, University of Cambridge, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 63%
Nuclear Physics and Applications
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