Strong Enhancement of Dd-reaction Accompanied by X-ray Generation in a Pulsed Low Voltage High-current Deuterium Glow Discharge with a Ti-cathode

Using noiseless solid-state CR-39 plastic track and Al2O3:C thermo-luminescent detectors, the yields of 3.0 MeV protons from DD-reaction and soft x-ray photons emitted from the cathode were studied in the periodic pulsing deuterium glow discharge with titanium cathodes at low discharge voltages (in the range 0.8–2.5 kV) and high current density (300–600 mA/cm2). The analysis of DD-proton yield versus accelerating voltages allowed us to estimate the deuteron screening potential value US in the deuteron energy range of 0.8 < Ed < 2.45 keV. A strong DD-reaction enhancement was found in the glow discharge (the effective screening potentialUe = 610± 150 eV was found) compared to that for accelerator experiments at higher deuteron energies (Elab ≥ 2.5 keV) and lower beam current density (50–500 μA/cm2). X-ray measurements showed an intense (Ix = 1013 − 1014 s−1cm−2 ) soft x-ray emission (with a mean energy Ex = 1.2 − 1.5 keV) directly from the titanium cathode. The x-ray yield is strongly dependent on the deuterium diffusivity in the near the surface layer of cathode.