Electron impact H-H and D-D fusions in molecules embedded in Al

Both H-H and D-D fusion reactions, detected via high energy particle emission on CR-39, are shown to occur when 200 and 400 keV electrons are bombarded onto H+ or D+ ion implanted Al thin crystals. Roughly 1-2 x 103 particle emissions, including both hydrogen and helium isotopes, in whole space were observed in each case. Collisions between recoiled D atoms due to the high energy electron impact give only 10-12 to 10-26 times smaller fusion rates than the experimental results. The present observations suggest the presence of a new kind of fusion reaction which occurs with negligible kinetic energy of the reacting nuclei. (author)