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Dynamically assisted nuclear fusion

Friedemann Queisser and Ralf Schützhold
Phys. Rev. C 100, 041601(R) – Published 21 October 2019

Abstract

We consider deuterium-tritium fusion as a generic example for general fusion reactions. For initial kinetic energies in the keV regime, the reaction rate is exponentially suppressed due to the Coulomb barrier between the nuclei, which is overcome by tunneling. Here, we study whether the tunneling probability could be enhanced by an additional electromagnetic field, such as an x-ray free electron laser (XFEL). We find that the XFEL frequencies and field strengths required for this dynamical assistance mechanism should come within reach of present-day or near-future technology.

  • Received 3 April 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.100.041601

©2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Nuclear PhysicsGeneral PhysicsParticles & Fields

Authors & Affiliations

Friedemann Queisser and Ralf Schützhold

  • Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany; and Fakultät für Physik, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstraße 1, Duisburg 47057, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 100, Iss. 4 — October 2019

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