We consider (d,p) and (d,n) reactions on light nuclei at low energies. A simple estimate using the second-order distorted-wave Born approximation shows that Coulomb-induced predissociation of the deuteron influences the relative rate by less than 10%. This disagrees with a previous explanation of experiments involving ${}_{}{}^6{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Li}$ targets and invalidates speculations about such effects in ‘‘cold fusion’’ experiments.

• Received 12 March 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.42.1639