Search for helium synthesis on a platinum cathode in a gas discharge in deuterium. A negative result

An attempt has been made to detect a helium synthesis reaction resulting from a collision of deuterium nuclei diffusing on a surface of a platinum cathode under gas-discharge conditions. After 134 h of discharge in a flask with deuterium, helium spectral lines have not been detected with an accuracy of 10^–4 of the intensity of deuterium spectral lines.     

Effect of the discharge parameters on the generation of deuterium ions in the plasma of a high-current pulsed vacuum arc with a composite zirconium deuteride cathode

We have studied the mass and charge composition of an ion beam extracted from the plasma of a vacuum arc with a zirconium deuteride cathode for various durations of the arc current pulse (half width at half amplitude) of 2, 4, 7, and 17 μs. It has been established that the fraction of deuterium ions in the vacuum arc plasma increases with the current and the dependence achieve saturation for current of about 1 kA. For the fraction of deuterium atoms in the cathode at a level of 40%, the fraction of deuterium ions in the vacuum arc plasma can exceed 80%. The experimental results have been interpreted theoretically. It has been shown that the main sources of deuterium ions in a microsecond arc discharge are cathode spots. We have developed a model of deuterium desorption during the operation of cathode spots for quantitatively estimating the concentration of deuterium ions in the arc plasma.     

The effect of a nitrogen-rich surface layer on the sub-surface deuterium (hydrogen) concentration distribution in titanium

Deuterium and nitrogen depth profiles in Ti with modified surfaces have been measured with Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and D(³He,p)⁴He nuclear reaction analysis. Nitrogen-rich surfaces layers of varying thicknesses were created on Ti by exposure to N₂ gas at 650°C. Deuterium loading was performed by exposure to 1 Torr of D₂ gas at 500°C. The deuterium distribution was influenced by nitrogen in the near-surface regions of all samples. Specifically, deuterium solubility was suppressed in surface regions of high (greater than 1%) nitrogen concentration. The deuterium solubility also remained low within the first few microns, well beyond the region of high nitrogen concentration. This effect is attributed to internal elastic stresses imposed by the non-deuterium absorbing nitrogen-rich layer on the Ti. These stresses prohibit the volume expansion associated with deuterium absorption. We estimate stresses on the order of 3–4 GPa are required to suppress the deuterium solubility to the values observed. The deuterium absorption kinetics were observed to depend systematically on the thickness of the nitrogen-rich layer. This is consistent with limited solubility near the surface or a surface poisoning effect influencing the overall deuterium diffusion from the gas phase into the Ti bulk.     

Measurement of the compressibility of a deuterium plasma at a pressure of 1800 GPa

The thermodynamic properties of a highly compressed deuterium plasma have been measured using an explosive spherical experimental chamber. The experiment has been performed with an X-ray diffraction complex consisting of three betatrons and a multichannel optoelectronic system of the detection of X-ray images of the process of the explosive spherical compression of deuterium. The density of the shock-compressed deuterium plasma ρ = (4.3 ± 0.7) g/cm³ at the pressure P = 1830 GPa has been detected at the initial pressure of gaseous deuterium P ₀ = 267 atm and the temperature T ₀ = 10.5°C. Under such conditions, the plasma is strongly nonideal (Γ ～ 450) with the degenerate (nλ _e ³ ～ 280) electron component and with an electron density of about 2.8 × 10²³ cm^?3.     

Diffusion of deuterium in GaAs from a molecular gas source

It is shown for the first time that deuterium can diffuse into GaAs from a gaseous source. Experiments performed at 500° C show two-component diffusion profiles with diffusion coefficients in the range 10^–15–4×10^-1cm²s^–1 depending on the conductivity type of the samples. These diffusion coefficients are considerably lower than those determined after RF plasma hydrogenation. Such a slow diffusion process is related to the reaction of molecular deuterium with the sample surface leading to the dissociation of the deuterium molecules.     

Deuterium and hydrogen distribution in a stack of Ta|(CD2) n |Ta foils under the action of high-temperature pulsed nitrogen plasma

Using the method of the elastic recoil detection (ERD) of hydrogen nuclei and a Plasma Focus setup (PF-4), we study the processes of the storage and redistribution of hydrogen and deuterium atoms in a stack of two tantalum foils and a deuterated polyethylene film sandwiched between them under pulsed irradiation with hot nitrogen plasma. It is established that the redistribution of implanted deuterium and hydrogen occurs at greater depths in both tantalum foils after 30 pulses of nitrogen plasma. The maximum concentrations of hydrogen and deuterium, namely 7 and 45 at % are observed on the surface of the second tantalum foil which is more distant from the PF-4 setup. The redistribution of deuterium from deuterated polyethylene onto the surface and volume of both Ta foils is observed. The observed phenomenon can be explained by the breaking of chemical bonds in the deuterated polyethylene and the transfer of freed deuterium into the Ta foils under the action of strong shock waves formed in the structure, as well as the accelerated diffusion of hydrogen and deuterium in the stress field caused by the shock wave.     

Effect of surface oxidation on the surface condition and deuterium permeability of a palladium membrane

Oxidation and deoxidation of a Pd membrane was conducted in a quartz tube oven in a temperature range of 23-500 °C. The micromorphology and chemical composition of the Pd membrane surface was characterized using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Micropores and PdO began to form on the Pd membrane surface after oxidation at 240 °C for 1 h and their quantity increased gradually with increasing temperature. A rough Pd membrane surface was obtained when the temperature rose to 500 °C. The PdO on the Pd membrane surface was completely deoxidized once more using H₂ at room temperature, but the rough surface morphology caused by oxidation remained. The deuterium permeability of the Pd membrane was tested using special equipment in the China National Key Laboratory and the results indicated that the rough Pd membrane surface had higher deuterium permeability than the original membrane. The improved deuterium permeability could be attributed to the higher Pd membrane surface area, which provided deuterium atoms with more adsorption sites and dissociation sites.     

Deuterium accumulation in an assembly of nickel foils irradiated by high-temperature deuterium plasma

The accumulation of deuterium in an assembly of nickel foils by the pulsed irradiation of a deuterium plasma is studied. It is established that implanted deuterium is transferred to a much greater depth than that corresponding to the projective range of deuterium plasma ions with a maximum velocity of 10⁸ cm/s. The maximum concentration (up to 4 at % deuterium) is observed in the second Ni foil. The observed phenomenon can be explained by the action of shock waves and concomitant stresses on the transport and redistribution of deuterium to greater depths.     

Determination of the deuterium abundance in water using a cw chemical DF laser

This paper describes a new method for the determination of the deuterium content in water samples. The absorption of the radiation of a cw deuterium fluoride laser by HDO in water vapor is measured by means of a nonresonant spectrophone (optoacoustic detector). This method enables one to evaluate the isotope ratio of hydrogen in a rather simple and straightforward way. Advantage is taken of the fact that HDO absorbs some of the DF laser lines whereas H₂O shows no absorption. Due to the small concentration in natural water deuterium is practically entirely present as HDO. Therefore a selective determination of the deuterium content is possible. In the course of the investigation the absorption coefficients of HDO for the different laser lines were determined. It was thereby established that there exists a strong coincidence of an HDO absorption line with the 2P2 DF laser line. The detection sensitivity of the method was then examined for some selected laser lines. The concentration of HDO in natural water samples could be determined with an accuracy of better than 10%. The experiments, however, show that with appropriate improvements it should be possible to achieve an accuracy of better than 1%. This makes the method very interesting as an analytical tool in hydrology.     

Analysis of a tungsten surface irradiated by fast ions and deuterium plasma

The effects occurring on the surface of tungsten under irradiation with fast ions with an energy in the megaelectrolvolt range and with high fluxes of hydrogen (deuterium) plasma are considered. These effects are radiation damage of the surface layer of the material, its erosion and deuterium retention in it. Irradiation with helium ⁴He²⁺ (3.2–4.0 MeV) and carbon ¹²C³⁺ (10 MeV) ions is performed using a cyclotron at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute. The thickness of the damaged layer is 3.5–6 μm. The irradiated samples are exposed to steady-state deuterium plasma using a LENTA linear plasma facility to reach a plasma ion fluence of 10²¹–10²² cm^?2. Tungsten erosion and modification of the structure of the damaged layer are analyzed at a plasma-ion energy of 250 eV. Deuterium retention in the damaged layer is studied by elastic recoil detection analysis. The deuterium concentration and its penetration depth into the material are measured. The data obtained for different kinds of fast ions used in the work are compared.     

Quasi-Isentropic Compressibility of Deuterium at a Pressure of ~12 TPa

An experimental result for the quasi-isentropic compressibility of a strongly nonideal deuterium plasma compressed in a spherical device by the pressure P = 11400 GPa (114 Mbar) to the density ρ ≈ 10g/cm³ has been reported. The characteristics of the experimental device, diagnostic methods, and experimental results have been described. The trajectory of motion of metallic shells compressing a deuterium plasma has been recorded using intense pulsed sources of X rays with the boundary energy of electrons up to 60 MeV. The deuterium plasma density ρ ≈ 10g/cm³ has been determined from the measured radius of the shell at the time of its “stop.” The pressure of the compressed plasma has been determined from gas-dynamic calculations taking into account the real characteristics of the experimental device.     

A plasma channel scheme for the interaction of an intense femtosecond laser pulse with a deuterium cluster jet

We propose a plasma channel scheme to obtain an improved table-top laser driven fusion neutron yield as a result of explosions of large deuterium clusters irradiated by an intense laser pulse. A cylindrical plasma channel is created by two moderate intensity laser prepulses at the edge of a deuterium cluster jet along which an intense main laser pulse propagates several nanoseconds later. With the aid of this plasma channel, the main laser pulse will be allowed to deposit its energy into the central region of the deuterium gas jet where the cluster sizes are larger and the atomic density is higher. The plasma channel formation and its impact on the deuterium ion energy spectrum and the consequent fusion neutron yield have been investigated. The calculated results show that a remarkable increase of the table-top laser driven fusion neutron yield would be expected.     

Helium-3 as a Perspective Fuel for Power Generation through Aneutronic Thermonuclear Fusion

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - The aneutronic D3–He (deuterium–helium-3) fuel cycle is considered as a viable alternative to D–T (deuterium–tritium) fusion since it is...     

强激光场中氘团簇双重膨胀引发核聚变

在超强fs激光与氘团簇的相互作用中, 分析了可以引发核聚变的高能氘核产生的原因,提出了团簇双重膨胀的机制,计算了氘核动能及团簇解体的时间, 为选取合适的激光脉冲宽度参数提供参考. Considering the Coulomb explosion induced by the interaction of a deuterium cluster target with ultra intensity femtosecond laser,the causation which generate energetic deuterium nuclei for the fusion has been analyzed. The mechanism for the dual explosion of deuterium cluster is proposed, and hence the velocity of deuterium nuclei and the expansion time of deuterium ion clusters have been estimated.     

Experimental verification of a zero order desorption model: D2 on Ni(110)

The rate of desorption of deuterium from the low temperature (α) state on Ni(110) follows nearly zero order kinetics. Simultaneous measurements of intensities and profiles of half-order diffraction beams and changes in work function during isothermal desorptionof D₂, have shown that the zero order region is associated with the presence of islands of the (1 × 2) phase which act as reservoirs of deuterium. These results are discussed in terms of a recent model for zero order desorption which requires the presence of 3 deuterium surface phases in equilibrium. The activation energy for desorption of the α-state is 67 ± 6 kJ mol⁻¹.     

强激光加载下高压液氘材料的电导率

液氘在高压下有丰富的电学光学性质。利用反射率和相对介电函数关系并从广义极化角度出发初步建立了计算低Z材料电导率的简易模型;在神光-Ⅱ装置上利用第九路激光冲击加载液氘材料并测量了其在强激光冲击下的高压状态参数和反射率。结合上述理论模型和实验,研究了高压下液氘的电离度和电导率。结果表明,液氘在约70 GPa时的电导率约为2.87105 (Wm)-1,已呈现出较为明显的金属电导特性。显然,冲击加载下液氘从绝缘分子态开始电离并向金属氘转变发生在更低的压强。     

含氘电极真空弧等离子体空间分布特性诊断研究

真空弧放电等离子体含有多种离子成分,并且各离子在空间上具有不同的分布规律.本文针对金属氘化物电极真空弧离子源,搭建了一台紧凑型磁分析装置,用来研究放电等离子体中氘离子与金属离子的空间分布.当离子源弧流为100 A左右时,该装置能有效地传输引出束流,并且具有较好的二次电子抑制效果,可准确获得各离子流强.利用该装置测量并获得了氘化钛含氘电极真空弧放电等离子体内氘离子和钛离子空间分布规律,结果表明:径向上,氘离子和钛离子都呈高斯分布,但氘离子分布均匀,而钛离子相对集中在轴线附近,导致轴线附近氘离子比例最低;轴向上,所有离子数量都以自然指数函数减少,而且相对幅度接近,所以氘离子比例几乎不变.本文研究结果不仅有助于理解真空弧放电等离子体膨胀过程,还可以指导金属氘化物电极真空弧离子源及其引出设计.     

飞秒激光氘团簇库仑爆炸引发核聚变的机理研究

在超强飞秒激光与氘团簇的相互作用中，利用库仑爆炸模型，分析了可以引发核聚变的高能氘核产生的机理，提出了氘离子团簇膨胀尺寸与时间的关系式，计算了多种尺寸的氘团簇库仑爆炸时氘核的动能以及氘团簇的解体时间． 关键词： 飞秒强激光 氘团簇 库仑爆炸 核聚变     

四倍频磷酸二氘钾晶体

生长了不同氘含量的磷酸二氘钾(DKDP)晶体,切割角度统一沿Ⅰ类非临界相位匹配方向,即与晶体z轴成90与x轴成45,分别在1 064 nm和1 053 nm两种基频波长下进行了四倍频实验,通过测定氘含量与相位匹配角的联系,确定出能够实现非临界四倍频的DKDP晶体的最佳氘含量。实验发现在1 064 nm的基频波长下通过调节DKDP晶体的氘含量无法实现室温的非临界相位匹配,而在1 053 nm基频波长下实现室温的非临界相位匹配的DKDP晶体最佳氘含量为85%左右     

Simultaneous and sequential adsorption of deuterium and nitrous oxide by rhenium

The addition of nitrous oxide to a stream of deuterium passing over a rhenium filament reduced the initial sticking probability of the latter gas from 0.24 to 0.09 when the proportion of N₂O exceeded 40%. For the addition of deuterium to nitrous oxide the equivalent figures were 0.45 and 0.30 when deuterium exceeded 30% of the gas phase. These results are attributed to a competition between the two gases for places in the precursor state on the surface. The replacement of adsorbed deuterium from a saturated layer by the oxygen atom of nitrous oxide proceeded initially with a high probability, 0.27, at room temperature and with each oxygen atom replacing one deuterium atom. However, the reaction was incomplete, about 2 × 10¹⁴ atoms cm^?2 of deuterium remaining on the surface. It is suggested that kinetic rather than thermodynamic factors are responsible for the incomplete reaction, possibly as the result of a high activation energy for the migration of deuterium atoms over an oxygenated rhenium surface.