Radiation-induced catalysis of low energy nuclear reactions in solids

Abstract

The Schwinger model of nuclear fusion extended with account of localized anharmonic vibrations (LAV) has been applied to the nuclear reaction presumably taking place in the metal hydrides/deuterides. LAV excited in NiH lattice can enhance the fusion rate by 25 orders of magnitude. New method of the low-temperature catalysis of low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) is proposed, which is based on the excitation of LAV in solids by Bremsstrahlung gamma and Characteristic X-rays produced by accelerated electrons hitting a metallic converter. The main advantage of the high-frequency electromagnetic irradiation is its deep penetration into the reactor material as compared to the electrons of the same energies. Upon entering the metal hydride/deuteride lattice, Characteristic X-rays are converted to the electrons of the same energies throughout the crystal bulk due to the photoelectric effect. The keV electrons produced in this way interact with heavy (metal) and light (H/D) ions resulting in significant displacements of the light ions while leaving the heavy metal ions essentially unperturbed. In this way, it is possible to excite LAV in the H/D sub-lattice in the whole volume of fuel mixture, which act as catalysts of LENR due to the time-periodic modulation of the potential wells, in which protons or deuterons are trapped. Experimental evidence of irradiation effect on the rate of chemical and nuclear reactions in solids is discussed and new experiments based on the present method are proposed.