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A number of popular extensions of the Standard Model of particle physicspredict the existence of doubly charged scalar particles $X^{\pm\pm}$. Suchparticles may be long-lived or even stable. If exist, $X^{--}$ could formatomic bound states with light nuclei and catalyze their fusion by essentiallyeliminating the Coulomb barrier between them. Such an $X$-catalyzed fusion($X$CF) process does not require high temperatures or pressure and may haveimportant applications for energy production. A similar process ofmuon-catalyzed fusion ($\mu$CF) has been shown not to be a viable source ofenergy because of the sticking of negative muons to helium nuclei produced inthe fusion of hydrogen isotopes, which stops the catalytic process. We analyze$X$CF in deuterium environments and show that the $X$-particles can only stickto $^6$Li nuclei, which are produced in the third-stage reactions downstream inthe catalytic cycle. The corresponding sticking probability is very low, and,before getting bound to $^6$Li, each $X$-particle can catalyze $\sim 3.5\cdot10^{9}$ fusion cycles, producing $\sim 7\cdot 10^{4}$ TeV of energy. We alsodiscuss the ways of reactivating the $X$-particles from the Coulomb-bound(${\rm ^6Li}X$) states, which would allow re-using them in $X$CF reactions.

Nuclear fusion catalyzed by doubly charged scalars: Implications for energy production