Potentiality of the proton-boron fuel for controlled thermonuclear fusion

The reaction p + 11B → 3α + 8.7 MeV is evaluated as a potential fuel for a controlled thermonuclear fusion reactor. It is shown that successful fusion power from p-11B is not to be expected in magnetic confinement devices because of very large synchrotron radiation losses. Laser fusion might be a more appropriate approach if it is proved feasible.