On the influence of Maxwell--Chern--Simons electrodynamics in nuclear fusion involving electronic and muonic molecules

Abstract

New results recently obtained (\textit{Annals of Physics} (New York) a.n.~168943) established some non-relativistic ground state solutions for three-body molecules interacting through a Chern--Simons model. Within this model, it was argued that Chern--Simons potential should not help improve the fusion rates by replacing electrons with muons, in the case of particular muonic molecules. This achievement motivated us to investigate quantitatively whether or not the Maxwell--Chern--Simons electrodynamics could influence positively, for example, the probability of having a muon-catalyzed fusion; its contribution to electronic molecules is also considered in this letter. The principal factors related to the probability of elementary nuclear fusion are therefore numerically calculated and compared with their analogs admitting other forms of interaction like $-1/\rho$ and $\ln (\rho)$. The analysis carried on here confirms that one should not expect a significant improvement in nuclear fusion rates in the case of muonic molecules, although, surprisingly, the same is not true for electronic molecules, compared with other theoretical predictions. Numerical predictions for the fusion rates for $ppe$, $pp\mu$, $dde$ and $dd\mu$ molecules are given as well as the predicted value for the tunneling rate for these molecules.