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A great deal of work has been done in an attempt to harness this reaction.
It appears that no one has solved the many serious technical issues that are involved.
This new topic is available for any NewMars member to contribute links or text to help members learn about the process, or to keep up with developments.
The opening post will offer a link to a ChatGPT transcript which covers the differences between Boron-10 and Boron-11.
Each yields useful results when bombarded with protons of the correct energy level, but the results differ significantly.
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The transcript at the link below covers some differences between Boron-10 and Boron-11.
The methods of separation of the isotopes is covered.
Production of alpha particles by Boron-11 >> Carbon 12 is covered
Generation of a positron Boron-10 >> Carbon-11 is covered.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pka … sp=sharing
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In another topic, the relationship between Quantum effects and biological systems is considered.
The author is: Clarice D. Aiello, University of California, Los Angeles
One of the aspects of Quantum Physics mentioned in the article is spin of particles such as electrons, but apparently including all (or most) known particles, and (presumably) unknown ones as well.
I bring this up in the context of the outstanding and (so far) unsolved problem of achieving reliable, efficient fusion of Boron-11 with Protons. The problem facing all researchers is that the protons gathered in the nucleus of Boron-11 (or any nucleus) don't appreciate the arrival of another proton. It is possible to persuade the reluctant members of the Boron-11 "family" to accept an intruder, but the party breaks up shortly afterward.
I am interested in spin as a possible angle of approach to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of persuading these reluctant parties to join together for a good cause. The good cause (of course) is space craft propulsion of thermal or electrical energy for human applications.
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In pursuing the question of how to create Tritium for a potential nuclear battery market, I found it useful to investigate Boron-11+Proton reactions. It's been a while since I looked into progress in this area.
ChatGPT4 suggested a Google service: scholar.google.com
I entered a search string looking for the energy of a Proton that successfully enters a Boron-11 nucleus.
There were many citations delivered by the search request. The first of this was for this paper:
Home Journal of Fusion Energy
Article
HB11—Understanding Hydrogen-Boron Fusion as a New Clean Energy Source
Review
Open access
Published: 13 May 2023Volume 42, article number 17, (2023)
Cite this article
This is a thorough discussion of the work done by numerous researchers of a number of years, starting in 1930 when Boron-11+Proton was first discovered. The paper discusses Deuterium-Tritium fusion efforts at considerable length, and provides a long list of advantages of B11-P if it can be made to work.
It appears that break-even has not been achieved by any of the research teams. Two approaches may be of interest to NewMars readers. One is the traditional "Pitcher-Catcher" approach. The second is the newer "In-Target" approach, which features energy delivered by a laser to a target that is enriched with Hydrogen. The theory of operation is to cause the Hydrogen to move at just the right velocity to enter the B11 nucleus.
The paper is available as a downloadable pdf.
The specific item I was looking for was the energy of the Proton that enters the B11 nucleus ... that showed up as a data point in a range of uncertainty:
Material Properties One basic element which is still not precisely known, despite the discovery of HB11 fusion almost 90 years ago, is the precise behavior of proton boron fusion cross-section. Classical data on the proton-boron cross section by Nevins & Swain [4] has been more recently revisited by Sikora and Weller [45] who found higher cross sections in the range of "10 MeV". Still, the exact shape of the cross section at energies below a few hundred "keV" and for energies " > 3MeV"is not known. Presently, several experiments are being planned to fill these gaps the results of which will be critical to developing the models used to simulate laser-driven proton-boron fusion experiments. Similarly, an understanding of the equation of state and opacities of boron under extreme conditions will be another critical requirement for accurate simulations, particularly under compression as proposed for the "Hybrid Burn”.
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The article at the link below reports on progress by one of many groups trying to achieve fusion with Boron 11 and hydrogen:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-a … 51256.html
I'll try to capture the text for NewMars ...
The Cool Down
Scientists achieve breakthrough solution to decades-long issue with virtually limitless energy device: 'Charting a path'
Ren VenkateshWed, May 14, 2025 at 7:15 AM EDT
3 min readScientists achieve breakthrough solution to decades-long issue with virtually limitless energy device: 'Charting a path'
Generate Key TakeawaysWhile nuclear fusion technology would prove a promising energy source with zero carbon pollution and minimal radioactive waste if successfully commercialized, scientists are still struggling to navigate its financial and technical roadblocks.
On that front, researchers at California's TAE Technologies have made significant strides in reducing the cost and complexity of fusion technology without compromising on its extraordinary efficiency.
Ordinarily, fusion requires engineers to generate plasma at extremely high temperatures and to confine the energy released, often with Field-Reversed Configuration technology, TAE explained in a release.
The FRC tech produces its own internal magnetic field to yield up to 100 times more energy than a typical tokamak reactor and makes hydrogen-boron fuel — "the cleanest, safest, and most sustainable option for the planet," noted the release — more viable.
Unfortunately, plasma formation using the FRC has so far proven both costly and unstable.
TAE Technologies' solution, published in the journal Nature Communications, involves injecting neutral particle beams into the company's new advanced particle accelerator "Norm" to heat and stabilize an FRC plasma.
The engineers' findings have the potential to "[reduce] the machine's size, complexity and cost by up to 50% and [optimize] for economic competitiveness and commercial viability," the release continued.
As demands for global energy production continue to rise under our growing populations and industrial developments, moving away from dirty energy becomes increasingly important to avert environmental catastrophe.
Burning fuels like coal and oil releases carbon pollution into our atmosphere — 36.8 billion tonnes in 2023, and still rising, according to NASA's Earth Observatory — and traps heat on our planet. The ripple effects of rising temperatures include more intense extreme weather events and threats to our food and crop supply.
Fusion technology supplies massive amounts of power without any reliance on fuel-burning, and without the radioactive waste problem that afflicts today's fission-based technology.
Commercializing fusion technology may not only limit the climate impact of energy generation, but it could also slash utility costs for the average individual by enabling power companies to more easily and efficiently keep up with demand.
TAE's "Norm" development, for instance, may "[chart] a path for streamlined devices that directly addresses the commercially critical metrics of cost, efficiency, and reliability," theorized Michl Binderbauer, CEO of TAE Technologies.
"This milestone significantly accelerates TAE's path to commercial hydrogen-boron fusion that will deliver a safe, clean, and virtually limitless energy source for generations to come," Binderbauer added.
"Norm" is set to precede TAE's next reactor prototype, "Copernicus," which TAE engineers anticipate will demonstrate fusion as a viable energy source before 2030.
As TAE continues to research and refine its technology, TAE's first full-fledged nuclear fusion power plant, known as "Da Vinci," will hopefully come online in the early 2030s.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
If someone in the active membership understands this report, and can explain it in a few words, please do so. I think that Boron 11 Hydrogen fusion is one of the most attractive pathways available, but it appears to be as elusive as deuterium-tritium fusion. I am ready for ** someone ** to succeed in this quest!
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