Anomalous enhancement of DD reaction in Pd and Au/Pd/PdO heterostructure targets under low-energy deuteron bombardment

Abstract

Yields of protons emitted in the D+D reaction in Pd, Au/Pd/PdO, Ti, and Au foils are measured by a d E-E counter telescope for bombarding energies between 2.5 and 10 keV. The experimental yields are compared with those predicted from a parametrization of the cross section and stopping power at higher energies. It is found that for Ti and Au target the enhancement of the D(d,p)T reaction is similar to that observed with a deuterium gas target (several tens of eV). The dependence of the yields on the bombarding energy corresponds well to the screening potential parameters U s=250±15 eV for Pd and 601 ±23 eV for Au/Pd/PdO. Possible models of the enhancement obtained are discussed.