On the extreme variants of nuclear fusion realization

Abstract

The canonic reaction of helium synthesis as a result of deuterium and tritium interaction can take place both in high-temperature and low-temperature variants. In both cases, the nuclei draw together so closely that Coulomb’s barrier becomes enough transparent for tunneling. In the case of high-temperature synthesis the energy of chaotic thermal motion is needed to overcome the energy of electrostatic repulsion of «bare» nuclei. As a contrary, in the low-temperature variant, when deuterium and tritium nuclei replace protons in partially ionized hydrogen molecule, and negatively charged μ-meson replaces the only electron, electromagnetic interaction of nuclei with μ-meson provides nuclei approach each other to the critical distance of Rс ≈ 5 ∙ 10–13 m. A hypothesis on appearance of intermedium quasi-molecular states (IQS) when negatively charged ions collide is formulated. It is supposed that in such states the nuclei can draw together due to effective attraction to the group of negatively charged electrons having higher mass and charge as compared with individual electron. The value Rс ≈ 5 ∙ 10–13 m guarantees the tunneling only for light nuclei; therefore, the focus is made on ions’ collision with α-clustered nuclei (having compositions divisible to α-particles compositions). It is expected that the new nuclei synthesis will take place in the presence of oncoming tunneling of relatively weakly connected α-particles from α-clustered nuclei. For IQS formation, the energy acquired by colliding ions in external fields has to be comparable with the energy of their entire ionization. It was shown that the energies (not exceeding 1 keV) of oxygen ions in experiments with electrolysis of water, were accompanied by appearance of mainly carbon, silicon and iron, which meet this condition. These facts testify for the existence of IQS that have to be considered as one of the necessary conditions of low-energy nuclear reactions. In the Conclusion the program of further research is briefly stated. © 2017, Institute for Metals Superplasticity Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.