Non-Thermal Ignition Pathways for Proton–Boron Fusion in Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Systems

This work explores non-thermal ignition pathways for proton–boron (p–B¹¹) fusion within inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) systems operating in pulsed, high-field regimes. The study focuses on physical mechanisms that depart from conventional thermonuclear equilibrium assumptions, emphasizing ion acceleration, transient non-Maxwellian distributions, and collective plasma effects relevant to aneutronic fusion concepts. Rather than presenting experimental validation, this paper develops a physics-based conceptual framework supported by scaling arguments, prior experimental evidence from IEC and pulsed plasma devices, and cross-comparisons with alternative fusion approaches. Particular attention is given to the role of electric field topology, ion focusing, and non-equilibrium energy transfer channels that may enhance fusion reactivity under laboratory-accessible conditions. The results aim to clarify feasibility limits, identify critical engineering and plasma-physics constraints, and provide a structured basis for future experimental programs and research-and-development collaborations in advanced fusion systems.