Vice Chancellor for Research Seminar Series

Excess Heat and Particle Tracks from Deuterium-loaded Palladium - May 29, 2009

Abstracts

Welcome, Summary, and Observations

Robert V. Duncan

Though the first report of possible nuclear process in palladium was reported in Berlin in 1926, and verified cold fusion reactions have been observed and well documented in liquid deuterium in the 1950’s, recent reports of possible nuclear processes in palladium have been largely rejected without close scientific review as ‘junk science’ since 1990. I will discuss the recent experimental evidence for excess heat production in various experimental cell configurations from other authors. I will then give a general introduction to some of the empirical and hypothesis-driven experiments that have been conducted to date, pointing out both the strengths and limitations of the underlying models. These recent experiments suggest that the underlying mechanism of excess heat production is not yet well understood, but that detailed metallurgy studies and scaling experiments should be conducted in an attempt to determine if excess heat may be produced reliably at adequately high temperatures to provide an alternative source of energy in the future.

Twenty-Year History of Lattice-Enabled Nuclear Reactions Using Pd/D Co-deposition

F.E. Gordon, S. Szpak, P.A. Mosier-Boss, Melvin Miles, and L.P.G. Forsley

In the Pd/D co-deposition process, working and counter electrodes are immersed in a solution of palladium chloride and lithium chloride in deuterated water. Palladium is then electrochemically reduced onto the surface of the working electrode in the presence of evolving deuterium gas. Electrodes prepared by Pd/D co-deposition exhibit highly expanded surfaces consisting of small spherical nodules. Because of this high surface area and electroplating in the presence of deuterium gas, the incubation time to achieve high D/Pd loadings necessary to initiate LENR is orders of magnitude less than required for bulk electrodes. Using a Dewar-type electrochemical cell/calorimeter, it was shown that the rates of excess enthalpy generation using electrodes prepared by the Pd/D co-deposition technique were higher than that obtained when Pd bulk electrodes were used.¹ Positive feedback and heat-after-death effects were also observed with the Pd/D co-deposited electrodes. Infrared imaging of electrodes prepared by Pd/D co-deposition show that the working electrode is hotter than the solution indicating that the heat source is the Pd/D co-deposited electrode and not Joule heating.² Infrared images also show that the heat generation is not continuous, but occurs in discrete spots on the electrode. The ‘hot spots’ observed in the infrared imaging experiments suggest that ‘mini-explosions’ were occurring, These ‘mini-explosions’ were confirmed by conducting the Pd/D co-deposition directly on a piezoelectric transducer. To verify that the heat produced by Pd/D co-deposition was nuclear in origin, experiments were conducted to detect the nuclear ash. Using the Pd/D co-deposition, the following nuclear emanations have been detected: X-ray emission,³ tritium production,⁴ transmutation,⁵ and particle emission.^6,7

References

1. S. Szpak, P.A. Mosier-Boss, M.H. Miles, and M. Fleischmann, ‘Thermal Behavior of Polarized Pd/D Electrodes Prepared by Co-Deposition’, Thermochim. Acta, Vol. 410, pp. 101-107 (2004).
2. P.A. Mosier-Boss and S. Szpak, ‘The Pd/nH System: Transport Processes and Development of Thermal Instabilities’, Il Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 112A, pp. 577-585 (1999).
3. S. Szpak, P.A. Mosier-Boss, and J.J. Smith, ‘On the Behavior of the Cathodically Polarized Pd/D System: Search for Emanating Radiation’, Phys. Letts. A, Vol. 210, pp. 382-390 (1996).
4. S. Szpak, P.A. Mosier-Boss, R.D. Boss, and J.J. Smith, ‘On the Behavior of the Pd/D System: Evidence for Tritium Production’, Fusion Technology, Vol. 33, pp. 38-51 (1998).
5. S. Szpak, P.A. Mosier-Boss, C. Young, and F.E. Gordon, ‘Evidence of Nuclear Reactions in the Pd Lattice’, Naturwissenschaften, Vol. 92, pp. 394-397 (2005).
6. P.A. Mosier-Boss, S. Szpak, F.E. Gordon, and L.P.G. Forsley, ‘Use of CR-39 in Pd/D Co-Deposition Experiments’, Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 40, pp 293-303 (2007).
7. P.A. Mosier-Boss, S. Szpak, F.E. Gordon, and L.P.G. Forsley, ‘Triple Tracks in CR-39 as the Result of Pd/D Co-deposition: Evidence of Energetic Neutrons’, Naturwissenschaften. Vol. 96, pp. 135-142 (2009).

An Informed Skeptic's View of Cold Fusion

Edmund K. Storms

Claims for the initiation of nuclear reactions in solids without significant applied energy are so extraordinary that skepticism is justified. The talk will examine how such evidence should be evaluated. The question requiring an answer is, “Is there sufficient evidence obtained by competent people to demonstrate that the claims are warranted?” If the answer is yes, what do the studies reveal about the nature of phenomenon? If real, this is one of the most important scientific issues of this century with both scientific and technological implications for everyone.

Studies of the Fleischmann-Pons Effect at SRI International

Michael C.H. McKubre

March 23rd this year marked the 20th anniversary of the announcement by Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons that began the modern era of “cold fusion” with the claim that heat is produced from the deuterium-palladium electrochemical system under special circumstances at levels that are consistent with nuclear but not chemical heat production or energy storage effects. This effect has been reproduced in hundreds of laboratories, has been reported in thousands of papers in the peer reviewed literature, has been the subject of 14 major International Conferences and numerous books and reviews. Recently, the American Chemical Society hosted a three-day symposium in Salt Lake City on what are now called Low Energy Nuclear Reactions or the Fleischmann Pons Effect.

Despite these advances and this level of recognition the field still labors under a pall of skepticism largely sustained by a barrier of ignorance only partly dispelled with recent publicity. Not all are sure there is an effect; some suspect hidden systematic measurement errors; not everyone is aware of the evidential basis for the claims. An attempt will be made in this talk to breach the information gap by discussing essential experimental details and results obtained at SRI of heat and low Z isotope production, to try and grapple with the criticisms of the evidence for a new physical effect that have been directed from parts of the scientific community.

Modeling Excess Heat in the Fleischmann-Pons Experiment

Peter L. Hagelstein

Considering excess heat in the Fleischmann-Pons effect to constitute a new physical effect, we first need to understand what the experimental results tell us about the new process. To this end, we review briefly experimental results which help to clarify theoretical issues. One of the most interesting features of the Fleischmann-Pons experiment is that energy appears to be produced from some new kind of nuclear process, but with no energetic nuclear particles present commensurate with the energy production. This observation focuses our attention on models in which a large energy quantum is converted to a large number of small energy quanta. Models capable of accomplishing this are discussed. Some progress has been made on the development of a numerical model for simulating the Fleischmann-Pons experiment. We will give an outline of this new model.

Theory of Bose-Einstein Condensation Nuclear Fusion

Yeong E. Kim

The theory of Bose-Einstein condensation nuclear fusion (BECNF) [1] has been developed to explain many diverse experimental results of deuteron induced nuclear reactions in metals. The theory is based on conventional physical concepts and provides a consistent theoretical description of the experimental results. The experimental results show many different signatures of nuclear fusion (excess heat including “heat-after-death”, nuclear ashes, radiations, formation of micro-scale craters on metal surface, etc.). The theory is capable of explaining most of these diverse experimental results, and also has predictive powers as expected for a quantitatively predictive physical theory. The basic concept and important features of the BECNF theory will be presented, and comparison of theoretical predictions with experimental results will be discussed. Finally, key experimental tests of the BECNF theory will be discussed.

[1] Y. E. Kim, “Theory of Bose-Einstein Condensation Mechanism for Deuteron Induced Nuclear Reactions in Micro/Nano-Scale Metal Grains and Particles”, Naturwissenschaften DOI 10.1007/s00114-009-0537-6 (14 May 2009) and references therein.

A Review of Transmutation and Clustering in Low Energy Nuclear Reactions

Mark Prelas

Evidence for transmutation in Low Energy Nuclear Reactions will be reviewed along with the clustering theory put forward by Professor George H. Miley at the University of Illinois. Observations of transmutation have been reported in electrochemical cells as well as in ion loaded cells. Work done by the authors will be discussed in ion loading and hydrogen loading in to wide band-gap crystal lattices using Field Enhanced Diffusion with Optical Activation (FEDOA) where indirect evidence for clustering was observed.

Scientific and Other Challenges of Lattice-Enabled Nuclear Reactions

David J. Nagel

The scientific problems associated with LENR experiments include reproducibility, controllability and, most critically, understanding. Each of these is daunting. The challenges of responding quantitatively and effectively to critics are no less difficult. Beyond the technical problems, the field is suffering from inattention by the scientific community. Congress, government funding agencies, the US Patent and Trademark Office, venture capitalists and editors of the top journals and magazines are all waiting for a verdict from the scientific community regarding the legitimacy of LENR as a field of science. Despite all these hurdles, a few hundred researchers from over ten countries around the world are grappling with understanding and, possibly, exploitation of LENR. The experiments to date have indicated exciting, even historic, prospects. It may be possible to have distributed nuclear power sources, with negligible prompt radiation and radioactive waste. If this proves to be true, a new nuclear power industry might follow.

The Nature and Control of Excess Heat in Electrolytic Cold Fusion Cells

Peter H. Handel

We show that most of the excess heat is caused by a hidden heat pump, based on the new “Thermo-electrochemical and Thermo-electromechanical Effects” introduced earlier by this author. They cause a hidden heat pump to be present. If different metallic electrodes pierce the adiabatic surface, the resulting excess heat is infinite both for infinite time, and for finite time of operation, in the ideal thermodynamic limit, when the temperature difference between calorimeter content and surroundings becomes arbitrarily small. This brings progress in the scientific level and technologic refinement of cold fusion research, similar to replacement of mechanical tweezers in some molecular biochemistry experiments.

Rethinking Reactants - A New Look at Helium and Heat Production in LENR Experiments

Jeffrey Q. Hullekes

[Posted at the request of the author] A variety of experimental results observed in heat and/or helium producing LENR experiments will be analyzed resulting in a coherent interpretation of observed results. This will lead to the conclusion that the type of reaction producing 4He and heat is one where 4He is a reactant as well as a product and where deuterium is the essential fuel. Based on this conclusion a working hypothesis is formed about how such a reaction could take place in heavily deuterated metals. An important prediction is made that the introduction of (fast) alphas can have a great impact on the production rate and success of experiments that only sporadically produce 4He and heat.

Biographical Note on Jeffrey Hullekes: My academic background is in CAI (a study called Cognitive Artificial Intelligence) which among other things deals with bringing complex logical problems down to their essential components needed for computers systems to digest information otherwise incompatible with (automatic) problem solving. It's a highly multidisciplinary study which combines subjects from biology, computer science, psychology and philosophy. This study has given me the rather unique ability to perform an analysis of the seemingly unrelated aspects of the phenomena of "cold fusion". Right now my part time work is in the ICT business and my free time is currently used for this new interesting subject with which I started more than a year ago. The draft paper I wrote is best considered to be analytical in nature: it attempts to form a coherent picture of experimental results by logical analysis in order to provide a basis for subsequent theoretical interpretation.