Proton–boron fusion in a hydrogen-doped-boron target

The proton–boron ¹¹B( p,α )2α reaction (p- 11 B) is an interesting alternative to the D-T reaction D( T,n )α for fusion energy, since the primary reaction channel is aneutronic and all reaction partners are stable isotopes. We measured the α production yield using protons in the 120–260 keV energy range impinging onto a hydrogen–boron-mixed target, and for the first time present experimental evidence of an increase of α -particle yield relative to a pure boron target. The measured enhancement factor is approximately 30%. The experiment results indicate a higher reactivity, and that may lower the condition for p- 11 B fusion ignition.