The screening effect of D-D fusion in Sm in a sub-low energy region (20 keV).

The fusion reaction may be significantly changed in a solid target due to electron screening on target nuclei while the projectile energy is very low. The electron screening effect of the D(d, p)T reaction in the deuterated metal Sm at low target temperature (T [?] 133.2 K) has been studied in a deuteron energy region from 10 to 20 keV. The thick target yields of protons emitted in the D(d, p)T reaction were measured and compared with those data extrapolated from cross sections and stopping power data at higher energies. It is found that the reaction rates in Sm are enhanced over those of the bare nuclei. The screening potential in Sm under cooled conditions is deduced to be 520 ± 56 eV, which cannot be simply interpreted by the electron screening. The enhanced screening potential might be roughly interpreted with the classical plasma model of Debye, in which the screening potential decreases with increasing temperature while quasi-free metallic electrons are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]