On the possibility of fusion reactions in water molecules

Abstract

The probability of nuclear transitions $p+p+{}^{16}O\to {}^{18}Ne(4.522,1^{-})$ in molecular water is estimated. Due to the practically exact agreement of the energy of the $Ne$ resonance and of the $p+p+{}^{16}O$ threshold, the transition probability is found to be considerably enhanced. This indicates the possibility of nuclear fusion in rotationally excited $H_{2}O$ molecules in the state $1^{-}$.

4 pages, 11 kB, REVTEX; Journal-ref was corrected