Cold fusion in a confining phase of quantum electrodynamics

Energies and interactions of light atomic nuclei and neutrons would change in a hypothetical confining phase of quantum electrodynamics (CQED). Rapid fusion and thermalisation of nuclear particles in the new phase lead to a chemical equilibrium situation where the final fusion product is helium. It is speculated that a small domain of the new phase, embedded in a deuterated metal, can grow in the flow of fusion energy. This conjecture agrees with some of the recently observed cold fusion phenomena. The diffusion time of nuclei and neutrons in a sufficiently large domain of CQED is much longer than the fusion time. Nuclear chemical equilibrium is established before the fusion products reach the surface. The law of mass action together with isospin conservation gives the equilibrium fractions of fusion products. We find that 4He is the most abundant component within a wide range of model parameters. (author)