Measurement of the D(d,p)T reaction in Ti for 2.5 < Ed < 6.5 keV and electron screening in metal

In order to study the electron screening effect on low-energy nuclear reactions in metals, the D+D reaction in Ti was investigated. Measured were thick target yields of protons emitted in the D(d,p)T reaction from the bombardment of Ti metal with deuteron energies between 2.5 and 6.5 keV. The obtained yields were compared with those predicted by using the parameterization of cross sections at higher energies. It was found that the reaction rates in Ti are slightly enhanced over those of the bare D+D reaction for Ed < 4.3 keV, and the enhancement can be interpreted as caused by the electron screening. The electron screening potential in Ti is deduced for the first time to be 19 ± 12 eV. (author)