On the possibility of fusion reactions in water molecules

Abstract

The probability of nuclear transitions $p+p+{}^{16}{O} \, \rightarrow \, {}^{18}{Ne}\, (4.522,1^-)$ 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 $H_2O$ molecules in the state $1^-$.