Muon catalyzed fusion system using boron

Abstract

To solve the problem that muon is supplemented to a generated substance after fusion, not to a fusion fuel substance, and muon catalyzed fusion reaction is unlikely to proceed because in a well-known muon catalyzed fusion, muon is adhered to / captured / trapped by helium to be a generated substance after nuclear fusion, not to a fusion fuel substance such as hydrogen / heavy hydrogen D / tritium T, and catalyzed fusion reaction stops; and to propose a system which is unlikely to generate a neutron.SOLUTION: A nuclear fusion reaction system in which an electric charge of atomic nucleus of a substance generated by nuclear fusion is smaller than an electric charge of atomic nucleus of an atom to be fusion fuel is used when the atomic nucleus is fused in muon-catalyzed fusion. To be specific, a muon catalyzed fusion system which uses for fusion fuel diborane including proton and boron or proton as hydrogen molecule together with boron is proposed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention is a device / invention related to nuclear power. This invention is related to a muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system. (This is an application based on an idea and requires demonstration.) [Background technology]

[0002] As shown in Non-Patent Document 1, a muon catalyzed nuclear fusion method (muon catalyzed nuclear fusion) is known.

[0003] Hydrogen molecules containing deuterium (D) and tritium (T) are made into a liquid, and muons are introduced into the liquid, where the muons act as a catalyst for nuclear fusion to cause a nuclear fusion reaction. However, in the case of hydrogen molecules, the charge of the atomic nucleus after nuclear fusion increases from +1 for hydrogen atoms to +2 for helium atoms, and the muons are captured and trapped by Coulomb forces by nuclei with a charge of +2, helium nuclei, and alpha particle nuclei, causing the muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion to stop (become difficult to react).

[0004] According to Non-Patent Document 2, a thermonuclear fusion method using protons and boron is known. In thermonuclear fusion reactors, high-energy neutron rays that can activate the fusion reactor through DT and DD reactions are a problem, and as a solution, a system using protons and boron (P-11B system, proton-boron system) that does not or is unlikely to emit neutrons is being considered. When the P-11B system is used in a thermonuclear fusion reactor, there is a problem that the temperature at which thermonuclear fusion occurs must be 10 times higher than that of the DT system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion [Internet, WEB page, URL: https: / / www2.kek.jp / imss / msl / muon-tour / fusion.htmll, accessed September 18, 2023] [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 2] National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) Demonstration of fusion reaction using advanced fusion fuel - First step towards a clean fusion reactor using hydrogen-boron reaction that does not produce neutrons - [Internet WEB page, URL: https: / / www.nifs.ac.jp / news / researches / 230309-01.html, accessed September 18, 2023] Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The problem we are trying to solve is that in a muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system using hydrogen atoms and hydrogen molecules, muons are captured and trapped by Coulomb force, causing the muon catalyzed nuclear fusion to stop (become difficult to react). In addition, in systems using deuterium D or tritium T in muon nuclear fusion, neutrons are generated that may radioactively activate the components of a fusion reactor or nuclear fusion system, but it may be possible to have a system that does not generate neutrons. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion, we want to bring muons close to hydrogen atoms, which are the fuel material before nuclear fusion, to cause nuclear fusion, but the helium nuclei of the atomic nuclei after nuclear fusion have more charge than the hydrogen nuclei before nuclear fusion, making them easier to capture muons. Therefore, in this invention, as a system that reverses the change in charge, a system that uses protons and boron is disclosed as Example 1 in Figure 1. Also, an assumed example of a spacecraft 3 / transportation device 3 equipped with it is shown in Figure 5.

[0009] The intention of Fig. 5 is that spacecraft and space exploration robots 3 traveling between planets may be required to generate power and propel themselves using fuel carried on the spacecraft even in interplanetary and interstellar environments where sunlight and starlight cannot reach. The background to this is that it would be possible to use the vacuum environment of space as a power source, operate a particle accelerator to generate muons and protons, and configure a nuclear fusion reactor and nuclear fusion thruster.

[0010] Although there is a possibility that neutrons may be emitted, as an embodiment (embodiment 2) from another viewpoint of the present invention, a system using protons and lithium is also disclosed as an example that is not limited to a system using protons and boron. The intention of disclosing the lithium system is that lithium has a lower melting point than boron and is easy to heat to liquid lithium. On the other hand, a system using boron needs to be heated to a high temperature exceeding 2000 degrees Celsius, which is the melting point of boron.

[0011] This invention focuses on the fact that in a proton-boron nuclear fusion reaction system (P-11B system), the charge of the boron nucleus that serves as the nuclear fusion fuel is +5, and the charge of the helium produced after nuclear fusion is +3. The P-11B system is a system in which the charge of the nucleus decreases when the nuclear fusion reaction occurs from boron to helium. (*On the other hand, the DT system is a system in which the charge increases after nuclear fusion as mentioned above, and trapping occurs.)

[0012] Figure 1 of this application assumes the following reaction (not demonstrated): 1. A proton with a charge of +1 enters a boron nucleus (a muonic molecule containing boron) with a charge of +5 that has been captured by a muon with a charge of -1, causing a nuclear fusion reaction. This promotes the reaction. 2. Nuclear fusion produces three helium alpha particles with a charge of +3 and energy from one proton and one boron. 3. It is believed that muons prefer to be trapped (electrically attracted) by boron, which has a +5 charge and is present in large quantities in the bulk surrounding the muon, rather than being trapped by +3 helium after generation. 4. The muon tends to remain near the boron rather than the helium, trapping the muon and the boron (which becomes a muon molecule, making it easier for protons to approach each other electrically and undergo nuclear fusion) undergoing nuclear fusion with the incoming protons, and the muon catalyzes the nuclear fusion reaction between protons and boron.

[0013] In this invention or idea, in a proton-boron nuclear fusion reaction system (P-11B system), the boron that serves as the nuclear fusion fuel has an electric charge of 5 (+5), and the helium produced after nuclear fusion has an electric charge of 3 (+3). Therefore, we propose a system (Figure 1) in which muons and protons are irradiated onto a boron target to cause muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion. *This application is still in the idea stage and has not been proven, but we are filing this application on the assumption that in the P-11B system, the fuel has a +5 charge of boron, which makes it easier to capture and trap negatively charged muons than the +2 charge of the helium produced after generation. *In the opposite system, the known hydrogen-DT muon catalyzed fusion system, negatively charged muons are more likely to be captured by helium.

[0014] *This invention has been described with an example of a proton-boron nuclear fusion system, but in order not to limit the scope of the invention, the conditions of the invention may be disclosed more generally, so long as the charge of the substance generated when atomic nuclei fuse is smaller than the charge of the atoms that become the nuclear fusion fuel. *For example, a reaction system as shown in Figure 2 is conceivable. As in the example of Figure 2, it may also be a system that uses boron B or lithium Li.

[0015] The boron and lithium of the present invention may be used in the form of a liquid by heating from room temperature. For example, liquid lithium may be used. Existing muon-catalyzed fusion systems use cooled liquid hydrogen (which has a melting point of minus 250 degrees Celsius), but liquid lithium has a melting point of around 180 degrees Celsius, so liquid lithium may have the advantage over liquid hydrogen in that it is easier to liquefy when used as a muon target. ●Boron also has a melting point of 2070 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of 4000 degrees, which is higher than lithium, but it can be used as liquid boron in the target area where muons and protons are irradiated. In the target area, it is expected that muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion will occur using boron, which has a nuclear charge of +5, and lithium, which has a nuclear charge of +3, as fusion fuel. After the muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion, helium alpha rays, which have a nuclear charge of +2, are generated and released from the system. (A system using boron and protons is shown in Figure 1, and a system using protons, neutrons, and lithium is shown in Figure 3.)

[0016] The main feature of the present invention is that a muon catalyzed fusion system is used in which the charge of the substance (He in Figure 1, alpha rays) produced when atomic nuclei undergo the above-mentioned fusion is smaller than the charge of the atoms that serve as the fusion fuel (B in Figure 1). Effect of the Invention

[0017] The present invention is a nuclear fusion system that does not emit neutrons, unlike the P-11B system, and has the advantage that it is less likely to produce radioactive materials during nuclear fusion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system 1F-SYS, which uses boron and protons. [Diagram 2] Figure 2 shows an example of a nuclear fusion reaction system characterized by the fact that when atomic nuclei fuse, the charge of the nuclei of the material produced by nuclear fusion is smaller than the charge of the nuclei of the atoms that become the nuclear fusion fuel. (Figure 2 is an explanatory document, and not all of the examples shown in Figure 2 are used in the present invention, but they are described as examples of reaction systems with this characteristic. For example, Figure 2 shows systems that use protons and boron, and protons and lithium.) [Diagram 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system 1F-SYS, which uses lithium and protons. [Figure 4]Figure 4 is a comparative explanatory diagram of the muon catalyzed nuclear fusion method using existing D or T and the muon catalyzed nuclear fusion method using protons and B or Li of the present invention. (The upper part of Figure 4 is the method using D and T, and the lower part of Figure 4 is the method using protons and B and Li of the present invention.) [Diagram 5] Figure 5 shows a nuclear fusion reactor 1R and a nuclear fusion application thruster 1TH including the present 1F-SYS, and examples of their applications. *For example, the 1F-SYS may be mounted on a spaceship 3 or exploration robot 3 that propels and moves in the air, outer space, between planets, or between stars. The spaceship 3 may be a spaceship that generates muons, protons, and neutrons using an accelerator, collects and stores nuclear fuel B or Li, and causes the nuclear fusion reaction, releasing He alpha rays, etc., to the rear of 3 to propel the spaceship by the reaction. *3 is not limited to spaceships, and may be various transportation equipment, aircraft, spacecraft, ships, submarines, vehicles, automobiles, robots, various industrial machines, and space exploration robots. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system 1F-SYS using diborane and borohydride. (This is an explanatory diagram of the system in which the target T1 is diborane, excluding the part where protons are irradiated in Figure 1.) [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an illustration of the muon catalyzed fusion system 1F-SYS, which uses a diborane-borohydride section pressurized by the ramjet method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Figure 1 shows Example 1. Focusing on the trap problem of muon catalyzed nuclear fusion, we have devised a muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system using boron, as shown in M1, T1, and B1 in Figure 1. As an actual use form of Figure 1, the form of a spaceship or exploration robot 3 that travels between planets or stars where sunlight does not reach is shown in Figure 5. EXAMPLES

[0020] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the device / system of the present invention that uses boron for the fuel F1 and the target portion T1. *This system uses muons and protons, so some equipment such as accelerators is required. A vacuum is required to operate the accelerator. If the accelerator is placed in outer space, the vacuum of outer space can be used. EXAMPLES

[0021] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the device / system of the present invention that uses lithium for the fuel F1 and the target part T1. Lithium has a lower melting point than boron. [Industrial Applicability]

[0022] Although it is necessary to secure resources such as boron and lithium, it may be possible to create a power source through nuclear fusion. The present invention uses an accelerator that requires a vacuum and generates alpha rays that are expected to be emitted at high speeds, so it may be possible to use it in the propulsion system of a spacecraft that travels through the vacuum of outer space, as shown in Figure 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] <Fig. 1, Fig. 3> 1F-SYS: An explanatory diagram of a muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion system that utilizes a nuclear fusion reaction using boron and protons. M1: Means of muon generation, means of injecting and irradiating muons into the nuclear fusion fuel target T1. Example: A system using a particle accelerator capable of generating muons. P1: Proton generating means, means for injecting and irradiating protons into a fusion fuel target T1. Example: A particle accelerator capable of accelerating protons and firing / irradiating a target. An element of fusion fuel in a boron-proton fusion reaction system. N1: Neutron generating means, means for injecting and irradiating neutrons into a fusion fuel target T1. Example: A particle accelerator capable of accelerating neutrons and firing / irradiating a target. A1: Particle accelerator A1. T1: Target section containing fusion fuel. Fusion fuel T1, F1. B1: The part of T1 that uses boron. Boron target. The boron may be molten. L1: The part of T1 that uses lithium. Lithium target. The lithium can be molten liquid lithium. EX1: EX1, a product of nuclear fusion. In Figures 1 and 3, this is the helium (He) alpha ray produced after nuclear fusion. <Figure 5> 1R: 1F-SYS, which is a nuclear fusion reactor. A nuclear fusion reactor including 1F-SYS. A power generation unit that converts the energy of alpha rays into electrical energy may be provided. *Although not specified in Fig. 5, the electric power derived from nuclear fusion generated by 1F-SYS and 1R may be supplied to the muon generator M1 and the proton generator P1 to generate muons and protons. The electric power may be used to drive the system of the present invention and each part of the system. 1TH: Fusion application propulsion devices and thrust generating devices including 1F-SYS. 1TH-NZ: The nozzle part of 1TH. When the product EX1 after nuclear fusion is energetic helium or alpha rays, this nozzle part emits said alpha rays. It may be a thrust deflection device or nozzle. The alpha rays may be irradiated onto a propellant, which may then be heated and ejected. *Apart from 1TH-NZ, a propulsion device that uses the recoil of an ion thruster or photon laser may be operated using the electricity generated by 1R. <Figure 6> System using diborane B2H6 BH1: A substance containing boron, B1 being boron hydride, diborane, or borane. T1 and F1 being diborane. A diborane target. Diborane and BH1 may be gas, liquid, fluid, or solid. (The configuration of FIG. 7 using a fluid is also possible.) In the system of FIG. 6, diborane containing hydrogen and protons is used, so the proton introduction part P1 shown in FIG. 1 is not necessary. <Figure 7> 1F-SYS-RAM: Nuclear fusion system. (An assumed diagram of a system using the diborane of the present invention applied to a system in which a nuclear fusion fuel fluid having a known ramjet part circulates in a closed loop system.) RAM: The ram pressure generating device used when compressing using the ramjet method. PBH1: Compressed BH1 section. Muon target section with compressed diborane fluid section. FP: Nuclear fusion reaction section, muon irradiation section. FEEDC: This is the part that removes the helium from the diborane fluid circulating in the system, removes excess substances, and adds necessary substances, diborane as fuel. Feed control part. Fuel supply system, fuel control system. Helium (He) removal part, diborane fuel supply part, etc. HX: Heat exchanger ENEX: Although not shown in the diagram, it is a device that generates electricity using alpha rays and nuclear fusion energy, and is a power generation unit. It may be included in the system. PUMP: Compressor, pump. Pressurizes, compresses, and circulates the fluid in the system. Driven by a motor, etc. (Powered by electricity obtained from the power generation unit) M1: Muon generator, muon irradiator. (Powered by the power generator) EX1: Helium produced after nuclear fusion (which needs to be removed).

[0024] <Other> In this application, we use a system in which the positive charge of the nucleus of the nuclear fuel material (e.g. B, Li) is greater than that of the fusion product (e.g. He), in order to keep the negatively charged muon in the nucleus of the nuclear fuel material. The intention is that the muon will be more stable in terms of Coulomb force, charge, electric field, and electricity if it is located in the fusion fuel than in the fusion product. *For example, if there is an impurity with an atomic number Z greater than that of boron in a boron system, the impurity may trap the muon and stop the reaction according to the idea of ​​this application. (For example, when considering sodium borohydride NaBH4, which is used as a raw material for diborane, sodium has a Z greater than boron, and according to the idea of ​​this application, the muon should be trapped by the Na in NaBH4.)

[0025] Although the invention of this application and the embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0026] <<Additional portions based on an application claiming priority>> The following items have been added to the previous application, Patent Application No. 2023-150635.

[0027] In Fig. 1, protons are irradiated onto boron, but as shown in Fig. 6, borane, diborane B2H6, or boron hydride, which is a compound in which boron, protons, and hydrogen atoms are bonded together, may be used for the target part T1. For example, liquefied diborane may be used for the fusion fuel F1 or the target part T1. The system in Fig. 6 uses diborane containing hydrogen and protons, so there may be an advantage in that the proton introduction part P1 shown in Fig. 1 etc. is not required.

[0028] Fig. 7 shows the 1F-SYS-RAM system, which pressurizes, compresses, and circulates diborane and irradiates it with muons to induce nuclear fusion. (Fig. 7 is one of the examples and embodiments of Fig. 6.) Fig. 7 is an assumed diagram of the case where a system using the diborane of the present invention is applied to a system in which a known nuclear fusion fuel fluid having a ramjet section circulates in a closed loop system.

[0029] Diborane in the 1F-SYS-RAM system in Figure 7 is pressurized, compressed and circulated by the compressor PUMP. The pressurized fluid diborane is further compressed by the compressor section RAM to form the compressed BH1 section (PBH1 section). Muons are irradiated from the muon irradiator M1 to PBH1, promoting nuclear fusion. (Because diborane is compressed, its density is high, making it easier for it to come into contact with muons, and it is hoped that this will facilitate the catalytic nuclear fusion reaction.)

[0030] The system 1F-SYS-RAM in FIG. 7 has the advantage that protons and boron can be supplied to the system together as diborane, which is a combination of hydrogen and boron. Not only is the proton introduction section P1 unnecessary, but it is also possible to add fuel to the system and remove He (degass) from the system. (Uses the feed control section FEEDC for the helium He removal section, diborane fuel supply section, etc.)

[0031] Also, considering the tendency for impurities with larger atomic numbers than boron to become mixed in, diborane, which is a gas that can be purified, may be better than solid boron. (Solid boron needs to be produced, purified, and refined as a solid crystal.) As mentioned in paragraph 0024 of this application using sodium borohydride NaBH4 as an example, this application is considered to dislike the presence of atoms with atomic numbers larger than the atomic number of the fusion fuel, post-fusion products EX1, or impurities in the fuel.

[0032] In addition, in the systems of Figures 1, 3, 6, 7, etc. of this application, it is not assumed that there are atoms with atomic numbers larger than the atomic number of the fusion fuel, post-nuclear fusion products EX1, or impurities in the path of the muon. For example, it is assumed that there are no atmospheric molecular atoms (such as nitrogen N and oxygen O) with atomic numbers larger than boron B. If nitrogen N exists, it may be trapped. In the configuration of this application, it may be necessary to take care to avoid atoms with atomic numbers larger than the boron fuel (or other candidate elements and atoms such as lithium).

[0033] <Document name>Claims <Claim 1> A muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system using a nuclear fusion reaction system characterized in that the charge of the nuclei of atoms / particles produced by the nuclear fusion reaction is smaller than the charge of the nuclei of atoms of the nuclear fuel material. <Claim 2> A muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system as described in claim 1, wherein the nuclear fusion fuel contains boron or lithium, and the atoms and particles produced by the nuclear fusion reaction are helium alpha rays. <Claim 3> A muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system as described in claim 2, wherein the fuel is in a liquid or fluid state. <Claim 4> A muon catalyzed nuclear fusion system as described in claim 1, which is a system having the characteristic of being less likely to produce neutrons through nuclear fusion reactions, wherein the nuclear fusion fuel uses boron or boron hydride, and the atoms or particles produced by the nuclear fusion reactions are helium alpha rays. <Document Name> Abstract <Abstract><Problem>In known muon catalyzed nuclear fusion, there was a problem that muons are attached, captured, or trapped by helium, which is a product of nuclear fusion, rather than by nuclear fusion fuel materials such as hydrogen, deuterium (D), or tritium (T), and catalytic nuclear fusion stops. We wanted to solve the problem of muons being captured by the product of nuclear fusion rather than by the nuclear fusion fuel material, making it difficult for the muon catalyzed nuclear fusion reaction to proceed. We also wanted to devise a system that is less likely to generate neutrons. <Solution> In muon-catalyzed fusion, a fusion reaction system is used in which the charge of the nuclei of the material produced by fusion is smaller than the charge of the nuclei of the atoms that serve as the fusion fuel.Specifically, a muon-catalyzed fusion system is proposed that uses protons and boron, or diborane, which contains protons and boron as hydrogen molecules, as the fusion fuel.

Claims

1. A muon catalyzed fusion system that uses a fusion reaction system in which the charge of the nuclei of the atoms / particles produced by the fusion reaction is smaller than the charge of the nuclei of the atoms of the nuclear fuel material.

2. 2. The muon catalyzed fusion system of claim 1, wherein the fusion fuel comprises boron or lithium and the atoms / particles produced by the fusion reaction are helium alpha particles.

3. The muon catalyzed fusion system of claim 2 , wherein the fuel is in a liquid or fluid state.

4. 2. The muon catalyzed fusion system of claim 1, wherein the fusion fuel is boron hydride, and the atoms / particles produced by the fusion reaction are helium alpha rays.

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