First-order perturbative estimate of the d + t + γ → α + n reaction rate
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: A new type of photoinduced nuclear reactions is considered when a photon is absorbed by a continuum state and accompanied by nuclear rearrangement. An important example of such reactions is d + t + γ → α + n which, in the regions of space containing a hot d − t mixture and a very large number of low-energy photons, can dominate the d + t → α + n fusion reaction, leading to an additional high-energy release. The present estimates of the environmental conditions where this might happen are made based on first-order perturbation theory with several values of the infrared cutoff. It is shown that with a cutoff of 1 eV, which corresponds to infrared light, the photon capture is several times larger than the d − t fusion rate in the big bang nucleosynthesis in the early universe, makes a noticeable contribution to energy release in tokamaks, and dominates by a few orders of magnitude in laser-direct-driven inertial confinement fusion. No effect on these three environments can be seen if the infrared cutoff is 1 keV. However, with this cutoff the photon absorption in a d − t mixture could become noticeable in future laser facilities at power intensities above 10 18 Watt / cm 2 . With further increase of the intensity towards 10 27 Watt / cm 2 photon capture will dominate even if the first-order perturbation theory breaks down at very large values of the infrared cutoff, around 1 MeV. The development of a nonperturbative approach to d + t + γ → α + n reaction is crucial to capture correctly the physics of low-energy photoabsorption with high-energy release. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Source: Physical Review C
Author: N. K. Timofeyuk
Institution: University of Surrey
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4405799508