A number of popular extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics predict the existence of doubly charged scalar particles $X^{\pm \pm }$. Such particles may be long lived or even stable. If they exist, $X^{--}$ could form atomic bound states with light nuclei and catalyze their fusion by essentially eliminating the Coulomb barrier between them. Such an $X$-catalyzed fusion ($X\mathrm{CF}$) process does not require high temperatures or pressure and may have important applications for energy production. A similar process of muon-catalyzed fusion has been shown not to be a viable source of energy because of the sticking of negative muons to helium nuclei produced in the fusion of hydrogen isotopes, which stops the catalytic process. We analyze $X\mathrm{CF}$ in deuterium environments and show that the $X$ particles can only stick to ${}^6\mathrm{Li}$ nuclei, which are produced in the third-stage reactions downstream in the catalytic cycle. The corresponding sticking probability is very low and, before getting bound to ${}^6\mathrm{Li}$, each $X$ particle can catalyze $\sim 3.5\times {10}^9$ fusion cycles, producing $\sim 7\times {10}^4\mathrm{TeV}$ of energy. We also discuss the ways of reactivating the $X$ particles from the Coulomb-bound (${}^6\mathrm{Li}X$) states, which would allow reusing them in $X\mathrm{CF}$ reactions.

中文翻译：

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双电荷标量催化的核聚变：对能源生产的影响

粒子物理学标准模型的一些流行扩展预测了双电荷标量粒子的存在$X^{\pm \pm }$. 这样的粒子可能是长寿的，甚至是稳定的。如果它们存在，$X^{--}$可以与轻核形成原子束缚态，并通过基本上消除它们之间的库仑势垒来催化它们的融合。这样一个$X$-催化融合（$X\mathrm{CF}$) 过程不需要高温或高压，可能对能源生产有重要应用。类似的介子催化聚变过程已被证明不是可行的能源来源，因为负介子粘附在氢同位素聚变中产生的氦核上，从而停止了催化过程。我们分析$X\mathrm{CF}$在氘环境中，并表明$X$粒子只能粘在${}^6李$核，在催化循环下游的第三阶段反应中产生。相应的粘着概率非常低，并且在绑定之前${}^6李$， 每个$X$粒子可以催化$～3.5\times {10}^9$聚变循环，产生$～7\times {10}^4\mathrm{TeV}$的能量。我们还讨论了重新激活$X$来自库仑束缚的粒子（${}^6李X$) 状态，这将允许在$X\mathrm{CF}$反应。