NO EVIDENCE FOR ENHANCED (D,D) FUSION UNDER (CD4)N+ CLUSTER IMPACT

Possible enhancement of (d,d) nuclear fusion rate under cluster impact has been investigated. (CD4)n+ clusters were sent onto deuterated polyethylene targets and protons resulting from fusion were detected. Using light clusters (n from 1 to 5) of constant velocity we measured essentially constant proton yields per incident deuteron, i.e., observed no deviation from binary (d,d) fusion cross sections. With heavier clusters (n = 110, 145) we could only determine upper limits of proton yields which seem to be entirely accounted for by beam contamination.