Non-equilibrium ignition of proton–boron plasmas via stochastic-adaptive reconnection control

Abstract We present the physics design and engineering architecture for a stochastic adaptive spheromak reactor designed for aneutronic proton–boron (p– 11 B) fusion. Building upon the unified statistical reconnection model, we utilize a stochastic-adaptive control strategy to force the plasma into a ‘Hard-Lock’ limit cycle. This regime exploits two non-equilibrium effects: (1) by moving beyond passive confinement, we describe a ‘Hard-Lock’ state where magnetic lattice formation suppresses turbulent transport losses according to a τ E ∝ B 2 , and (2) resonant alpha-dynamo recovery, where fusion products directly recharge the magnetic flux. Numerical simulations of the complete reactor cycle—including rigorous accounting for Bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation, and auxiliary housekeeping power—demonstrate a stable operating point with an ion temperature T i ≈ 600 keV, an electron temperature T e ≈ 65 keV, and an engineering gain Q eng > 5. Using Langevin dynamics modified for the high inertia of boron ions, we show that a stochastic-adaptive controller, based on Wirtinger calculus, can synchronize these heating pulses to bypass the Bremsstrahlung power limit, providing a pathway to net-energy aneutronic fusion. We describe the required superconducting magnet systems, direct energy converters, and the triple-loop control architecture necessary to realize this regime.