arXiv subjects

Mason J. Guffey

Publications and source records attributed to Mason J. Guffey.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Enhanced D-D Fusion Rates when the Coulomb Barrier Is Lowered by Electrons

A profusion of unbound, low-energy electrons creates a local electric field that reduces Coulomb potential and increases quantum tunneling probability for pairs of nuclei. Neutral beam-target experiments on deuterium-deuterium fusion reactions, observed with neutron detectors, show percentage increases in fusion products are consistent with electron-screening predictions from Schrodinger wave mechanics. Experiments performed confirm that observed fusion rate enhancement with a negatively biased target is primarily due to changes to the fusion cross section, rather than simply acceleration due to electrostatic forces.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Ponderomotive Screening of Nuclear Fusion Reactions Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance

A scheme is presented to catalyze nuclear fusion by the excitation of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of an Au nanobipyramid (NBP) by ultrafast (femtosecond) laser pulses. The effect utilizes the exceptionally high electric field enhancement provided by the Au NBP LSPR, localized to nm^3 volumes and fs time scales, to produce a ponderomotive force that in turn provides for screening energies near the Au NBP tip. Discrete-dipole approximation (DDA) simulations are presented to support the proposed scheme. Calculations made with conservative parameters suggest that the effect should be observable in a laboratory setting using commercially available ultrafast lasers.

physics.gen-ph↗