Nuclear Seminar

Electron Screening Effect

Dr. Francesco Raiola
University of Notre Dame

Monday, December 3, 2007   4:00 p.m.   NSH 124
(Refreshments served prior to seminar in NSH 124)

Understanding the electron screening effect in the laboratory is critical for a correct interpretation of low-energy nuclear reactions in stars.  The theory of electron screening in stellar plasma is still based on the physics model introduced in 1954 by Salpeter, although the mathematical treatments have been improved significantly in the meantime.  Extensive studies of the electron screening effect in different nuclear reactions have shown always the same discrepancy i.e. the experimental Ue>>adiabatic Ue.  In the recent years extensive studies of the electron screening effect in deuterated metals (54 metals and 4 insulators) and other environments have been carried out in Bochum.  Experimental results of anomalous enhancements have been interpreted in terms of the powerful verified prediction of this model one can consider it as a good parameterization of the experimental data.