Related papers: The Salpeter plasma correction for solar fusion re…
We test the Salpeter formalism for the electron screening of the solar proton-proton fusion reaction by solving numerically the relevant Schrodinger equation. We evaluate exactly the square of the overlap integral of the two-proton wave…
The standard theory of nuclear fusion rates in a strongly interacting plasma can be (correctly) derived only when the energy release, Q, is large compared to other energies in the problem. We exhibit a result for rates that provides a basis…
The fluctuation-dissipation theorem is used to evaluate the screening factor of nuclear reactions due to the electromagnetic fluctuations in a plasma. We show that the commonly used Saltpeter factor is obtained if only fluctuations near the…
We investigate the effects of plasma interactions on resonance-enhanced fusion rates in stars. Starting from basic principles we derive an expression for the fusion rate that can serve as a basis for discussion of approximation schemes. The…
The weak proton-proton fusion into a deuteron ($^2$H) is the driving reaction in the energy production in the Sun, as well as similar main sequence stars. Its reaction rate in the solar interior is determined only theoretically. Here, we…
The fusion enhancement factor due to screening in the solar plasma is calculated. We use the finite temperature Green's function method and a self consistent mean field approximation. We reduce this to one center problems, because in the…
Dewitt et al. (1973) derived a useful relation between the plasma screening factor for a reaction of two fusing ions and their chemical potentials, based on the plasma pair distribution functions. We show that their result can be derived in…
We develop a series expansion of the plasma screening length away from the classical limit in powers of $\hbar^{2}$. It is shown that the leading order quantum correction increases the screening length in solar conditions by approximately…
For solar conditions, we numerically integrate the density matrix equation for a thermal electron in the field of a Be-7 ion and other plasma ions and smeared-out electrons. Our results are in agreement with previous calculations that are…
Non-linear electron screening corrections of stellar nuclear fusion rates are calculated analytically in the framework of the Debye-Huckel model and compared with the respective ones of Salpeter's weak screening approximation. In typical…
The vacuum-polarization corrections to rates for nuclear-fusion reactions in the $pp$ chain and in the CNO cycle are calculated. For the reactions of particular importance to the solar-neutrino problem, the $\Hethree$, $\Hefour$, $\Be$, and…
We consider several nuclear fusion reactions that take place at the center of the sun, which are omitted in the standard pp-chain model. More specifically the reaction rates of the nonradiative production of ^3He, ^7Be, and ^8B nuclei in…
We review and analyze the available information for nuclear fusion cross sections that are most important for solar energy generation and solar neutrino production. We provide best values for the low-energy cross-section factors and,…
The ion sphere model introduced long ago by Salpeter is placed in a rigorous theoretical setting. The leading corrections to this model for very highly charged but dilute ions in thermal equilibrium with a weakly coupled, one-component…
We investigate the sensitivity of the solar model to changes in the nuclear reaction screening factors. We show that the sound speed profile as determined by helioseismology certainly rules out changes in the screening factors exceeding…
Derivation of the following formulae for solar position as seen from orbiting planet based on a simplified model: sunrise direction formula, solar declination formula, sunrise equation, daylight duration formula, solar altitude formula,…
We analyze standard theoretical models of solar energy conversion developed to study solar cells and photosynthetic systems. We show that the assumption that the energy transfer to the reaction center/electric circuit is through a decay…
We describe the physical motivations why we are urged to look for an ionic equilibrium distribution function slightly different from the Maxwellian to calculate nuclear reaction rates in the solar core plasma answering, at the same time, to…
We show that solar neutrino experiments set an upper limit of 7.8% (7.3% including the recent KamLAND measurements) to the fraction of energy that the Sun produces via the CNO fusion cycle, which is an order of magnitude improvement upon…
Divertor plasma detachment is likely needed for the function of magnetically confined nuclear fusion. It greatly reduces the particle and heat flux incident on a target, and thus reduces the sputtering and heat loading on the target. It is…