Electron screening in nickel

In order to further investigate electron screening phenomenon we studied proton induced nuclear reactions over an energy range from 1.35 to 3.08 MeV for different environments: Ni metal and NiO insulator. The measurements were based on observation of the γ-ray yields of 59,61,63,64,65Cu and 58,60,62Ni. Also, we have studied the decay of 61Cu produced in the reaction 60Ni(p,γ), in order to find a possible decay rate perturbation by atomic electrons and found a small difference in half-life for metallic compared to oxide environment, respectively. The present results clearly show that the metallic environment affects the fusion reactions at low energy and that it might also affect the decay rate.