Enhanced pyroelectric crystal D–D nuclear fusion using tungsten nanorods

SummaryThin films of vertically aligned tungsten nanorods were used to enhance field ionization in pyroelectric crystal D–D fusion experiments resulting in increased neutron production. The tungsten nanorods were deposited on a single LiTaO3 crystal using sputter deposition at glancing angles. The combination of a single tungsten tip with a thin film of nanorods on the face of the crystal yielded about four times the number of neutrons than did either a single tip or nanorods alone.