Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 20,1205040 (2025)

Rapid Communications

Numerical Analysis of Electrode Geometry Effects on Proton Generation and Acceleration in Pyroelectric Crystal Electrostatic Fields
Shun INOUE1), Toru TAKAHASHI1), Siyu ZHANG1), Toshiki TAKAHASHI1), Naoki MIZUGUCHI2)
1)
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
2)
National Institute for Fusion Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 322-6 Oroshi-cho, Toki, Gifu 509-5292, Japan
(Received 16 June 2025 / Accepted 23 June 2025 / Published 10 September 2025)

Abstract

To support the development of a compact experimental system for the proton-boron (p-11B) fusion reaction, we performed numerical simulations of proton generation and acceleration in the electrostatic field produced by a pyroelectric crystal. Electrostatic potential distributions were calculated by solving the Laplace equation for three electrode configurations: a disk electrode alone, a disk with a needle electrode, and a disk with a cylinder electrode. The proton impact rate on a boron target placed opposite the electrodes was evaluated for each configuration. It was found that the disk and needle electrodes achieved a maximum impact rate of approximately 37% at a crystal heating temperature of 5 K, while the cylinder electrode achieved a comparable impact rate at a lower temperature of 1 K. These results indicate that the cylinder electrode configuration can achieve efficient proton acceleration at reduced heating temperatures.

Keywords

pyroelectric fusion, proton-boron fusion, beam current, numerical analyses

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.20.1205040

Full Text

PDF format (601Kbytes) PDF Download

References

  • [1] J. Kawai et al., X-Ray Spectrom. 41, 216 (2012).
  • [2] B. Naranjo et al., Nature 434, 1115 (2005).
  • [3] J. Geuther et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 054803 (2006).
  • [4] D. Gillich et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 602, 306 (2009).
  • [5] M.M. Nasseri, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 362, 45 (2015).
  • [6] S. Mohtashami et al., J. Appl. Phys. 135, 200701 (2024).
  • [7] S.H. Sikora et al., J. Fusion Energy 35, 538 (2016).
  • [8] T. Takahashi et al., Phys. Plasmas 11, 3131 (2004).