Quantifying Nuclear Reactions in Metal Hydrides at Low Energies

POSTER

Abstract



We present deuterium-deuterium fusion rate measurements at low kinetic energies (<15 keV) in metal hydride foils, specifically Palladium- and Titanium-based targets. Fusion reactions are induced between deuterium atoms in the foils and deuterium ions from a sputter gun (200 μA, <15 keV). Two loading methods are investigated: electrochemical and direct ion beam loading. Preliminary results show differences in fusion reaction rates between these two modes. Fusion products are detected using a surface barrier detector and neutrons are measured with an EJ-309 detector. Future work will incorporate plasmonic structures to explore potential enhancements in fusion rates.

*The information, data, or work presented herein was funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), U.S. Department of Energy, under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

Presenters

  • Matthew P Colborne

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Authors

  • Matthew P Colborne

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Micah Karahadian

    • University of California, Davis

  • Mauricio Ayllon Unzueta

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Charlie P Johnston

    • University of California, Davis

  • Arun Persaud

    • Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Jeremy N Munday

    • University of California, Davis

  • Thomas Schenkel

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory