Spin Polarization of proton and B^11 Beams for the Colliding Beam Fusion Reactor

The kinematics of the p+B^11 resonant fusion reaction, including angular momentum conservation, shows that it is possible to enhance its cross section by polarizing the spins of p and B^11 (N. Rostoker, M. Binderbauer and H.J.Monkhorst, Science 278), 1419(1997).. The maximum spin enhancement is 60 percents, to be compared with enhancements of 50 percents for d-t and d-He^3 fusion. There may be an additional enhancement for p-B^11 due to the prolate, nonspherical shape of the B^11 nucleus. However, this effect would be probably small. Schemes for nuclear polarization will be explained. These methods will use optical pumping, Stern-Gerlach and/or rf techniques. Results of some polarization kinetics will be reported. The FRC plasma at the heart of the Colliding Beam Fusion Reactor is ideally suited for the use of polarized fuel. It will be shown that depolarization rates are negligible on fusion and diffusion time scales (H. J. Monkhorst, M. W. Binderbauer and N. Rostoker, Conference Proceedings, in the press). This situation is unlike that for tokamaks, for which these rates are unacceptably large (B. Coppi et al),Phys. Fluids, 29, 4060 (1986)..