Quantum Tunneling: Fusion possibilities.

black phantom

If an election can tunnel through atomic structures, or move through atomic barriers even when they don't have enough energy, could it be possible to create fusion through tunneling, even without sufficient energy, sufficient relative to standard energy levels needed?

I am thinking that it may be possible to cause full atoms to tunnel, even though it is less probable, and using laser fields and have them to stop half was through tunneling and create a fusion reaction.

Bill_K

Yes, but the problem is the low probability of barrier penetration combined with the very brief time the particles are close together. One way of overcoming this is Muon-catalyzed Fusion (see Wikipedia) in which their mutual attraction to a muon holds the particles together for a longer period.