Cluster-impact fusion, or beam-contaminant fusion (abstract)
- Plasma Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
Beuhler, Friedlander, and Friedman (BFF) reported anomalously huge D-D fusion rates while bombarding deuterated targets with (D{sub 2}O){sub {ital N}}{sup +} clusters ({ital N}{similar to}25--1000) accelerated to {approx}325 keV (R. J. Beuhler {ital et} {ital al}., Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 63}, 1292 (1989); R. J. Beuhler {ital et} {ital al}., J. Phys. Chem. {bold 94}, 7665 (1990)) (i.e., {approx}0.3 keV lab energy for D in (D{sub 2}O){sub 100}{sup +}). However, from our analysis of BFF's fusion product spectra, we conclude that their D lab energy was {similar to}50 keV. Therefore, no gross anomalies exist. Also, from our analysis of the BFF beam-ranging experiments through 500 {mu}g/cm{sup 2} of Au, we conclude that light-ion-beam contaminants (e.g., D{sup +} of order 100 keV) have not been ruled out, and are the probable cause of their fusion reactions. This work was supported by LLNL Subcontract B116798, Department of Energy (DOE) Grant No. DE-FG02-91ER54109, DOE Magnetic Fusion Energy Technology Fellowship Program (D. H. Lo), and DOE Fusion Energy Postdoctoral Research Program (Kevin W. Wenzel).
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-91ER54109
- OSTI ID:
- 7008745
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments; (United States), Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments; (United States) Vol. 63:10; ISSN RSINA; ISSN 0034-6748
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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