jamesr wrote: The only significant influence on one ion is the other ion.
I agree with most of your post, just this last part that I would like to single out…
In my hypothesis the above quoted statement is false, there is a third factor which can not be ignored, namely the observer. A particles preferential potential is a function of its mass, and as such, the preferred potential of a deuteron is above ground potential. We know this, because if you drop a deuteron it does not fall down….it floats up!
Therefore by dragging it below ground potential we are taking it further away from its preferential potential, the deuteron will in my opinion do anything it can, to get back to where it belongs, and as sure as water runs down hill, nature will find a way, and we know that the only way out is fusion.
This is the equivalent of putting the deuteron (king) in check, and the only way out for the deuteron (king) is fusing (towering).
Steven