Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A system for enhancing electron screening comprising:an electrically conductive base structure, the base structure including light element atoms and containing free electrons; anda source of electromagnetic (EM) radiation applied to the base structure, the EM radiation having an excitation frequency, wherein the base structure is configured such that:in response to the EM radiation, the free electrons oscillate between at least two localized regions of the base structure; andthe oscillation generates periodic charge density variations around a portion of the light element atoms that are disposed in the at least two localized regions. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the oscillation includes a plasmon oscillation. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of EM radiation comprises one or more of a laser, a diode, an electron generator, a voltage generator, a microwave generator, a radio wave generator, or a magnetron. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the excitation frequency is at least about 1 GHz. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base structure comprises a nanostructure. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of EM radiation is configured to generate EM radiation having a wavelength of from about 10 microns to about 0.1 micron. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of EM radiation is configured to generate EM radiation having X-ray or gamma ray wavelengths. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base structure includes at least one electrode having a tapering section and a tip, the tip being proximate to a discontinuity. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the discontinuity is configured as a knife edge, an annular knife edge, disposed at the tip. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the source of EM radiation is configured to operate at a power that is generally less than about 1 mW per discontinuity. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base structure comprises a discontinuity. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the discontinuity comprises a shape that is at least partially generally circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, tubular, or pointed. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the discontinuity comprises a nanostructure. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the discontinuity is coated with a coating material to enhance or facilitate a flow of electrons along its surface. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the coating material is a gold, copper, silver or other conducting material. 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the discontinuity has an area of about of about 10 nm2 or less. 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the base structure comprises two or more discontinuities. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base structure comprises an array of discontinuities. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the array of discontinuities is coupled to at least one substrate arranged on a support structure. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base structure is coated with a coating material to enhance or facilitate a flow of electrons along its surface. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the coating material is a gold, copper, silver or other conducting material. 22. The system of claim 1, wherein the light element atoms have an atomic mass of 62 or less. 23. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base structure is configured to exhibit a ratio of light element atoms to other atoms of at least 2 to 1. 24. The system of claim 1, wherein light element atoms include one or more of hydrogen-1, deuterium, boron-11, lithium-6, lithium-7, deuterium, tritium, helium-3, nitrogen-15 and tritium. 25. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base structure comprises one or more of palladium, tungsten, boron hydride, titanium, tantalum. 26. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base structure comprises one or more getter materials. 27. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more antenna structures. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein said one or more antenna structures comprise a first structure and a second metal structure respectively located on opposite sides of said base structure. 29. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of EM radiation is configured to operate at a power between about 1 mW and 10 mW. 30. The system of claim 1, wherein electron screening substantially offsets or reduces the effect of the Coulomb barrier between nuclei of the light element atoms. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the oscillating free electrons, create an electric field greater than about 108 volts/meter at a location proximate to the two localized regions and provides localized compression by ponderomotive forces that induces a fusion reaction between nuclei of at least a portion of the light element atoms. 32. An apparatus for enhancing electron screening comprising:an electrically conductive base structure, the base structure including light element atoms and free electrons;the base structure being configured such that, when subjected to applied electromagnetic (EM) radiation, having an excitation frequency:in response to the applied EM radiation, the free electrons oscillate between at least two localized regions of the base structure; andthe oscillation generates periodic charge density variations around a portion of the light element atoms that are disposed in the at least two localized regions. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the base structure comprises a nanostructure. 34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein electron screening substantially offsets or reduces the effect of the Coulomb barrier between nuclei of the light element atoms. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the oscillating free electrons creates an electric field greater than about 108 volts/meter at a location proximate to the two localized regions and provides localized compression by ponderomotive forces that induces a fusion reaction between nuclei of at least a portion of the light element atoms.