Observation of unexpected density effects in muon-catalyzed d-t fusion

Journal Article · Sun Feb 09 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.56.588· OSTI ID:5934980

Jones, S E; Anderson, A N; Caffrey, A J; Van Siclen, C D; Watts, K D; Bradbury, J N; Cohen, J S; Gram, P A.M.; Leon, M; Maltrud, H R

New experimental results on muon-catalyzed d-t fusion are reported. Unexpected target-density effects have been discovered both in dt..mu.. molecular formation in t..mu..+D/sub 2/ collisions and in the effective sticking probability. The dt..mu.. formation rate is significantly enhanced at high density, presumably because of a strong three-body contribution. The origin of the observed reduction of the sticking probability at high density remains unclear. Both effects increase the number of fusions per muon that can be achieved; 150 +- 4(stat.) +- 20(syst.) fusions per muon have been observed.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
• OSTI ID: 5934980
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 56:6; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640303* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Positronium
Muonium
& Muonic & Mesic Atoms & Molecules
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CATALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEUTERIUM
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEPTONS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
MOLECULES
MUONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PROBABILITY
RADIOISOTOPES
REDUCTION
STABLE ISOTOPES
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THREE-BODY PROBLEM
TRITIUM
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES