High-Frequency Gravitational Wave Induced Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is a process in which nuclei, having a total initial mass, combine to produce a single nucleus, having a final mass less than the total initial mass. Below a given atomic number the process is exothermic; that is, since the final mass is less than the combined initial mass and the mas...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fontana, Giorgio, Baker Jr, Robert M L
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ATOMIC NUMBER
EFFICIENCY
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
MASS
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
NUCLEI
SOLIDS
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
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Summary:Nuclear fusion is a process in which nuclei, having a total initial mass, combine to produce a single nucleus, having a final mass less than the total initial mass. Below a given atomic number the process is exothermic; that is, since the final mass is less than the combined initial mass and the mass deficit is converted into energy by the nuclear fusion. On Earth nuclear fusion does not happen spontaneously because electrostatic barriers prevent the phenomenon. To induce controlled, industrial scale, nuclear fusion, only a few methods have been discovered that look promising, but net positive energy production is not yet possible because of low overall efficiency of the systems. In this paper we propose that an intense burst of High Frequency Gravitational Waves (HFGWs) could be focused or beamed to a target mass composed of appropriate fuel or target material to efficiently rearrange the atomic or nuclear structure of the target material with consequent nuclear fusion. Provided that efficient generation of HFGW can be technically achieved, the proposed fusion reactor could become a viable solution for the energy needs of mankind and alternatively a process for beaming energy to produce a source of fusion energy remotely - even inside solid materials.
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616
DOI:10.1063/1.2437562