Part 6/9:
- Quantum Tunneling: The third mechanism suggests that larger nuclei in the material may assist smaller nuclei in transiting the Coulomb barrier through a quantum tunneling effect. This idea is founded on known phenomena where electrons can emit photons only in proximity to atomic nuclei. Under this model, the smaller nuclei could utilize energy from surrounding nuclei, potentially increasing fusion rates by up to 30 orders of magnitude.
When considered collectively, these mechanisms hold promise for enhancing fusion rates sufficiently to produce usable energy.