In one minute
Vladimir Pines and colleagues examine how deuterium nuclei might undergo fusion while packed into a metal lattice. Their theoretical treatment combines dense, relatively cold fuel with a smaller population activated by energetic neutrons. The calculations compare ways of transferring energy to the fuel and show why neutrons can be effective at energizing deuterium nuclei. Electrons around the nuclei reduce their electrical repulsion through screening, which changes the probability of tunnelling through the barrier and the predicted reaction rates. The paper also identifies limits of simplified screening formulas: at sufficiently low energies, direct calculations are needed to avoid exaggerated enhancement factors. This article develops the reaction model; the authors' experimental observations appear in a separate companion paper.
Nuclear fusion reactions in deuterated metals
- Vladimir Pines(Author)
- Marianna Pines(Author)
- Arnon Chait(Author)
- Bruce M. Steinetz(Author)
- Lawrence P. Forsley(Author)
- Robert C. Hendricks(Author)
- Gustave C. Fralick(Author)
- Theresa L. Benyo(Author)
- Bayarbadrakh Baramsai(Author)
- Philip B. Ugorowski(Author)
- Michael D. Becks(Author)
- Richard E. Martin(Author)
- Nicholas Penney(Author)
- Carl E. Sandifer, II(Author)
Publication and identifiers
- Work type
- Paper
- Year
- 2020
- Publisher
- American Physical Society
- Edition
- Journal article; full source read is related June2020 NASA technical-publication edition
- Identifiers
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- Recorded rights status
- Linking only
- Rights holder
- Not established by consulted item metadata
Citation fields
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- Original title
- Nuclear fusion reactions in deuterated metals
- Attribution
- Vladimir Pines(Author)
- Marianna Pines(Author)
- Arnon Chait(Author)
- Bruce M. Steinetz(Author)
- Lawrence P. Forsley(Author)
- Robert C. Hendricks(Author)
- Gustave C. Fralick(Author)
- Theresa L. Benyo(Author)
- Bayarbadrakh Baramsai(Author)
- Philip B. Ugorowski(Author)
- Michael D. Becks(Author)
- Richard E. Martin(Author)
- Nicholas Penney(Author)
- Carl E. Sandifer, II(Author)
- Year
- 2020
- Publisher
- American Physical Society
- Edition
- Journal article; full source read is related June2020 NASA technical-publication edition
- Identifiers