STRONG ENHANCEMENT OF DD-REACTION ACCOMPANIED BY X-RAY GENERATION IN A PULSED LOW VOLTAGE HIGH-CURRENT DEUTERIUM GLOW DISCHARGE WITH A TITANIUM CATHODE

摘要

Using noiseless solid-state CR-39 plastic track and Al_2O_3:C thermo-luminescent detectors, the yields of 3.0 MeV protons from DD-reaction and soft x-ray photons emitted from the cathode were studied in the periodic pulsing deuterium glow discharge with titanium cathodes at low discharge voltages (in the range 0.8-2.5 kV) and high current density (300-600 mA/cm~2). The analysis of DD-proton yield versus accelerating voltages allowed us to estimate the deuteron screening potential value U_S in the deuteron energy range of 0.8 < E_d < 2.45 keV. A strong DD-reaction enhancement was found in the glow discharge (the effective screening potential U_e = 610 ± 150 eV was found) compared to that for accelerator experiments at higher deuteron energies (E_(lab) ≥ 2.5 keV) and lower beam current density (50-500 μA/cm~2). X-ray measurements showed an intense (I_x = 10~(13) -10~(14) s~(-1)cm~(-2)) soft x-ray emission (with a mean energy E_x = 1.2 - 1.5 keV) directly from the titanium cathode. The x-ray yield is strongly dependent on the deuterium diffusivity in the near the surface layer of cathode.