If sufficient electron and deuteron fugacity is achieved the
probability of a 3 body tunneling reaction is energetically increased:
D+ + e- + D+ ---> He++ + e- + energy
D+ + e- + D+ ---> T+ + P + e- + energy
This involves the simultaneous 2 body tunneling of an electron and
deuteron to the location of another deuteron. When the fugacity of
both hydrogen and electrons reaches a critical point, addition of
more energy to the lattice results in fusions. This is an energy
focusing effect. An increase in the group energy state, i.e. group
fugacities, results in a pressure outlet involving wavefunction
collapse of only a few members. Let us examine how this might change
branching ratios.
The following are standard hot branching ratios:
D + D --> T(1.01 MeV) + p(3.03 MeV) (4.03 MeV, 50%)
D + D --> 3He(0.82 MeV) + n(2.45 MeV) (3.27 MeV, 50%)
D + D --> 4He( 76 keV) + gamma (23.8 MeV) (23.9 MeV, 1x10^-6)
The initial effect of an electron in a newly fused combined nucleus
is to reduce its potential energy. The tunneling of two deuterons
and an electron to a point is the result of a wavefunction collapse.
The amount of energy lost in the wavefunction collapse is dependent
on the size of the combined intermediate result.
From the electric potential energy Pe for separating an electron
from two deuterons we have:
Pe = k (-2q)(q)(1/r) = (2.88x10^-9 eV m) (1/r)
which we can rearrange to obtain r for a given potential energy,
r = (2.88x10^-9 eV m) (1/Pe)
and we have for 23.9 MeV:
r = (2.88x10^-9 eV m) (1/(23.9x10^6 eV))
r = 1.2x10^-16 m
which is about 10 times the diameter of a quark, and thus in the
realm of credibility. It is feasible for the wavefunction collapse
to initially consume all the available fusion energy.
If the three interacting particles collapse to a point, or even to
quark size, then all the 23.9 MeV available from ordinary hot fusion
(and more) is consumed. This is certainly an energetically favorable
tunneling reaction! Further, given that the collapsed intermediate
nucleus radius is variable in size, according to some probability
distribution, the we can see that the neutron producing reaction,
having the least energy available from the reaction (3.27 MeV), would
necessarily be the least likely branch path. Thus we can see how
electron catalyzed fusion produces an initially cool nucleus, and
favors the reaction D + D --> He.
However, the nucleus can't stay cool. The confined electron gains
energy from the vacuum, and from its immediate neighbors. It gains
energy until it has sufficient energy to tunnel out, and take some
kinetic energy with it also. In the process of the electron gaining
energy, while it and the deuterons are confined in and experiencing
accelerations within the energetic nucleus, it can be expected to
radiate. This is the energy of cold fusion, of electron catalyzed
fusion - protracted low energy gammas and beta radiation. The most
likely product is He, and the second most likely product, though
comparatively rare, is T. The least likely products are He3 and
neutrons.
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
