Reducing the coulombic barrier to interacting reactants

A method of operating a reactor comprising:

• applying an electric potential between at least two of a plurality of electrodes in the reactor comprising:
• a confining wall at least partially enclosing a confinement region,
• the plurality of electrodes adjacent or proximate to the confinement region,
• a control system comprising a voltage and/or current source configured to apply the electric potential between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the applied electric potential generates an electric field within the confinement region, and
• a reactant disposed in or adjacent to the confinement region;
• wherein the electric field in the confinement region, acting alone or in conjunction with a magnetic field, induces and/or maintains rotational movement of charged particles and neutrals in the confinement region;
• wherein, during operation of the reactor, the confinement region proximate the reactant comprises an electron-rich region having an excess of electrons over positively charged particles of at least about 106/cm3;
• and
• wherein, during operation of the reactor, repeated collisions between the neutrals and the reactant produce an interaction with the reactant that gives off energy and produces a product having a nuclear mass that is different from a nuclear mass of any of the nuclei of the neutrals and the reactant.