Optimization and first tests of the experimental setup to investigate the double-polarized DD-fusion reactions

TL;DR

This paper reports on the optimization and initial testing of an experimental setup designed to study polarized deuterium-deuterium fusion reactions, aiming to improve understanding of nuclear processes relevant to astrophysics and fusion energy.

Contribution

It introduces improvements to the polarized ion source and target system, enabling initial measurements of fusion reactions with polarized beams at low energies.

Findings

Successful modification of the atomic beam source for the jet target

Initial unpolarized fusion product detection at 10 keV

Enhanced setup readiness for polarized reaction measurements

Abstract

The study of DD reactions, especially with polarized reactants, helps for better understanding of the processes taking place in nuclear astrophysics and fusion reactors. At PNPI Gatchina, Russia, the PolFusion experiment with crossing of two polarized beams, i.e. a deuteron and a deuterium beam, is able to measure angular distributions of the differential cross section and, therefore, the spin-correlations coefficients with different combinations of the adjustable nuclear polarization of both beams with a center-of-mass energy between 10 to 100 keV. Some improvements and fine-tuning of the polarized ion source are performed and presented. The atomic beam source for the jet target has been modified as well. An unpolarized experiment with a 10 keV ion beam and heavy water vapor as a target has been carried out with successful registration of the fusion products