Role of polarization effects in nuclear reactions at low energies

The influence of electric polarizability of colliding particles on the cross sections for fusion of nuclei at low energies is investigated. It is established that polarization effects play a negligible role in the reactions considered. The contribution of these effects to the reaction cross sections is determined by the nuclear potential at the boundary of the range of the nuclear forces. It is shown that an incorrect approximation of the entrance-channel wave function has led Belyaev et al. [Preprint ITP-86-122R, Kiev, 1986; Preprint JINR E4-86-66, Dubna, 1986; Preprint JINR E4-87-35, Dubna, 1987] to the incorrect conclusion that particle polarizability influences strongly the cross sections for pp, pd, and dt reactions