  The physical mechanism of nuclear reactions at low energies caused by spatial
extension of electron is considered. Nuclear reactions of this type represent
intra-electronic processes, more precisely, the processes occurring inside the
area of basic localization of electron. Distinctive characteristics of these
processes are defined by interaction of the own field produced by electrically
charged matter of electron with free nuclei. Heavy nucleus, appearing inside
the area of basic localization of electron, is inevitably deformed because of
interaction of protons with the adjoining layers of electronic cloud, which may
cause nuclear fission. If there occur "inside" electron two or greater number
of light nuclei, an attractive force appears between the nuclei which may
result in the fusion of nuclei. The intra-electronic mechanism of nuclear
reactions is of a universal character. For its realization it is necessary to
have merely a sufficiently intensive stream of free electrons, i.e. heavy
electric current, and as long as sufficiently great number of free nuclei. This
mechanism may operate only at small energies of translational motion of the
centers of mass of nuclei and electron. Because of the existence of simple
mechanism of nuclear reactions at low energies, nuclear reactor turns out to be
an atomic delayed-action bomb which may blow up by virtue of casual reasons, as
it has taken place, apparently, in Chernobyl. The use of cold nuclear reactions
for production of energy will provide mankind with cheap, practically
inexhaustible, and non-polluting energy sources.
