Novel nuclear reactions observed in bremsstrahlung-irradiated deuterated metals

Abstract

$d$-D nuclear fusion events were observed in an electron-screened, deuterated metal lattice by reacting cold deuterons with hot deuterons $({d}^{*})$ produced by elastically scattered neutrons originating from bremsstrahlung photodissociation (where ``d'' and ``D'' denote $^{2}\mathrm{H}$). Exposure of deuterated materials ($\mathrm{Er}{\mathrm{D}}_{3}$ and $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{D}}_{2}$) to photon energies in the range of 2.5--2.9 MeV resulted in photodissociation neutrons that were below 400 keV and also the 2.45-MeV neutrons consistent with $^{2}\mathrm{H}(d,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}n)^{3}\mathrm{He}$ fusion. Additionally, neutron energies of approximately 4 and 5 MeV for $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ and $\mathrm{Er}{\mathrm{D}}_{3}$ were measured, consistent with either boosted neutrons from kinetically heated deuterons or Oppenheimer-Phillips stripping reactions in the highly screened environment. Neutron spectroscopy was conducted using calibrated lead-shielded liquid (EJ-309) and plastic (stilbene) scintillator detectors. The data support the theoretical analysis in a companion paper, predicting fusion reactions and subsequent reactions in the highly screened environment.