I was just reading an old Asimov science book, which stated that at about 750,000 tons per square inch (or 10342 GPa if my calculations are correct), electron fields break down and nuclei approach one another, becoming degenerate matter.

 

What kind of catalyst could result in fusion of degenerate matter (Deuterium, for example)? Would it simply require more pressure? If so, how much?

As pressure increases past a certain point a neutron star (in essence a very large and heavy neutron) is formed. Add more matter and the whole thing collapses into a black hole. The only force capable of that sort of pressure is gravity. Fusion of two nuclei is a different type of event.

Thanks. There's nothing that could be done to fuse degenerate matter then?

It's the ultimate in fused matter as it is.

Given that then, when it fuses, can it release usable energy?

You do understand we are talking about the gravitational collapse of a very large star size mass?

Well, I wasn't, necessarily. The pressure is from an arbitrary source in my... "Thought experiment." I do understand that's the normal state of affairs for this kind of collapse.

The only source of pressure that can push hard enough into the Pauli exclusion principle IS gravity to start off with and through a certain range (white dwarf) there will be lots of energy output, but not from the degeneracy per se but from the fusing of lighter elements to heavier ones.

Aren't photons produced in this reaction? Since the escape velocity is less than the speed of light this would generate energy. Alas, there probably is no catalist, as a neutron star is very dense, and it requires a fair amount of mass.