# CNO fusion using particle accelerator?

The CNO cycle is a catalytic fusion reaction that produces energy in stars larger than the sun. It converts four protons into a helium-4 nucleus using a cycle of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotopes as catalysts and releases 26.7 MeV of energy mostly in the form of gamma rays.

Could one make this cycle work in the laboratory by bombarding a cold high-density target made of these isotopes with protons accelerated in a particle accelerator?

If a carbon nucleus has a radius of about $2.7\times10^{-15}$ m then one would require protons to be accelerated to about $3.2$ MeV in order to overcome the Coulomb repulsion. I guess this can easily be achieved. If the energy of the gamma rays was captured perhaps one could produce fusion energy by this method?

• Might take a look here: physics.stackexchange.com/questions/43293/… It's about using particle accelerators to produce fusion. Many of the difficulties pointed out by the answer there would probably apply to the CNO cycle as well. – enumaris Sep 17 '18 at 22:05
• Without being bathed in a hot plasma of protons, you will find the cross sections for the reactions disappointingly small to put it mildly... – Jon Custer Sep 18 '18 at 0:26