Difficulties with Fusion Catalysis by Quarks

Abstract

IN a recent article Marshall Libby and Thomas¹ consider the effects on the production of stellar energy which arise if stable quarks are present inside main sequence stars such as the Sun. They point out that some negatively charged quarks Q_v (if stable) could form “triatomic molecules” with pairs of nuclei and thereby catalyse fusion reactions between these nuclei. Here we re-examine the stability of such “molecules” and show that binding to medium–heavy nuclei acts as a “catalytic poison” which withdraws the quarks from circulation. We conclude that quarks, even if they are present in the interior of stars, could not appreciably affect the energy production in the Sun and other stars.