In contrast to the approach of nuclei under thermal conditions, the interacting nuclei are maximally immobilised and are held near the equilibrium position not by a magnetic field, but electrostatically, while thin Coulomb barriers are overcome during quantum vibrations of the nuclei. The approach of nuclei to the minimum distances to (10^(-13) m) becomes possible due to the using of recent discoveries in the field of composite dielectric materials (SDM, super dielectric materials).
Description of the proposed processes
The essence of proposed method is the creating of conditions for maximum approaching of nuclei and hold it approached as long as possible.
The method can be implemented on the basis of a device resembling a capacitor and having a conductor of hydrogen isotopes (CHD), in which hydrogen is partially or completely ionised (1); a voltage generator (VG) (2) connected to the specified conductor, and a heat removal system (HRS) (3), which can simultaneously convert thermal energy into its other forms.
For the implementation of the method, a CHD with hydrogen isotopes dissolved in it is required (when dissolved, hydrogen molecules first decay into atoms, then the atoms donate electrons to the CHD and diffuse in it already as nuclei) [4]. Further, a positive potential is created on the CHD, which, however, is not sufficient for ionisation/breakdown in the space surrounding CHD. Composite dielectrics with a high relative permittivity and electric strength (https://patents.google.com/patent/US9530574B1/en) can be placed near the surface of the CHD to create an electrostatic field sufficient for the method.
In this situation, the following processes will take place. An electrostatic field is created near the CHD surface, and some of the nuclei of hydrogen isotopes will be placed near the CHD surface, being attracted to the negative charges induced by them in the CHD. Isotope nuclei find themselves in potential wells created by the Coulomb forces of neighbouring nuclei, where they oscillate. As long as the electrostatic field on the surface and near the CHD is not strong enough, and the nuclei tempera- ture is low enough, zero oscillations will occur near the bottom of the potential well. If the temperature increases, then the nuclei in the well will take a higher energy level and the oscillatory process will change with the appearance of the second mode.
If we further increase the strength of the electrostatic field on the surface of the CHD and select the temperature of the nuclei, then it is expected that meetings of neighbouring nuclei will occur due to their wave properties. The distances between neighbouring nuclei will decrease so much that tunnelling effects become possible. These processes can be enhanced if deuterium predominates among the isotopes of hydrogen dissolved in CHD. Deuterium nuclei are bosons; as the temperature on the CHD surface decreases, their velocities decrease. If deuterium is dissolved in the CHD in a concentration much higher than other isotopes, and also with the exclusive presence of deuterium in the CHD, the motion of non-boson nuclei near the surface has little effect on the speed of deuteron motion. And a lot of deuterons appear with significant de Broglie wavelengths and low particle velocities.
4. Assumed conditions for observing the process of electrostatic wave fusion.
To save voltage on the CHD the shape of the CHD can have a sharply convex tip. A high positive electrostatic field will be created near the tip at a relatively low positive potential on it. The reactions described above are expected near the tip. The tip can be coated with a composite dielectric with a high relative permittivity and dielectric strength.
It should be taken into account that Schottky barriers [3] appear at the boundaries of the CHD - dielectric. However, if a dielectric is used, Schottky barrier may have a width and height sufficient to prevent field ion emission of nuclei in a high external electrostatic field. To minimise the overheating process, it is necessary to use HRS.
Approximate calculation of processes.
Let's choose the values of the electrical strength of the dielectric material and its relative permittivity, which are close to the maximum possible for dielectric material at the present time: E = 10^7 V/m, ε = 3*10^10
It should be mentioned that in present time the materials with the relative permittivity ε can reach values more than 10^11 have been synthesised
(https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA632380.pdf)
These materials are called Super Dielectric Materials (SDM). In fact, they are composites. High dielectric permittivity is achieved there due to combinations of properties of porous dielectrics and ionic solutions. Porous dielectrics can be in the form of nanotubes containing an electrolyte. When an external electrostatic field is created, the ions in the electrolyte diverge in different directions, but cannot leave the nanotubes. Accordingly, an electric field, directed oppositely to the external one, arises inside such these tubes and due to the relatively large distance between electrolyte ions, this field, and, accordingly, the relative permittivity, are high. The use of such dielectric coatings will reduce the distance between nuclei on the surface of the needle by thousands of times, while preventing auto-ion emission from the tip of the needle.
Let the CHD be implemented in the form of a palladium needle with a tip radius r =10^(-8) m.
Then the strength of the electrostatic field near the positively charged tip of the needle can be described with sufficient accuracy by the formula:
Е= kQ/εr^2
From where we determine the magnitude of the charge at the tip of the needle:
Q = εЕr^2/k
And the number of nuclei (let it be deuterons) can be calculated as the total charge divided by the elementary charge e:
N = Q/e = εЕr^2/ek = 2*10^10
Let's estimate the distance between deuterons at the tip of the needle. To do this, we calculate the area of the needle tip and di- vide by the number of deuterons - we get the area occupied by each deuteron. The square root of this elementary area will give the approximate distance between deuterons.
If the tip is hemispherical, the tip square could be calculated as:
S = 2πr^2
Hence the elementary area occupied by one deuteron on the tip:
s = S/N = 2πek/εЕ
Then the distance between deuterons is:
d = s^(1/2) = (2πek/εЕ)^(1/2) = 1,7*10^(-13) m
Three times more than this distance between the nuclei causes nuclear fusion with muon catalysis and calculations can be stop here. But if somebody need I can calculate the transparency coefficient of the Coulomb barrier and show that the number of attempts when the nuclei is oscillated rapidly increase (to 1) the possibility of the barrier overcoming.
The approach of nuclei is carried out by an increase in their potential energy in an electrostatic field, and not by an increasing of their kinetic energy. The approach of nuclei to comparable distances in the process of thermonuclear fusion would mean heating them up to 8,000 eV (about 93 million kelvins). In combination with an unlimited time for keeping nuclei at close distances, the described method seems worthy of attention for practical application in order to obtain the implementation of nuclear fusion.
Will be glad to read any regarded comments/critics/amendments ...