New Energy Technology Symposium at the 237th American Chemical Society National Meeting
Schedule and Abstracts

 

ENVR

Sunday, March 22, 2009


8:30 AM-11:25 AM Hilton -- Alpine Ballroom West, Oral

New Energy Technology

Low Energy Nuclear Reactions: Introduction and Overview

Sponsored by:

ENVR

Organizer, Presiding:

Jan Marwan

      (Source: New Energy Times)

8:30 AM

1

 

Introducing low energy nuclear reactions
Jan Marwan

8:55 AM

2

 

Low-energy nuclear reaction research: 2009 ACS update
Steven B. Krivit

9:20 AM

3

 

Condensed matter nuclear science discoveries
Scott R Chubb Sr., Talbot A. Chubb

9:45 AM

4

 

From cold fusion to condensed matter nuclear science: 20 years of research
Michael Charles Harold McKubre

10:10 AM

5

 

Twenty year history of LENR research using Pd/D codeposition
Frank E. Gordon, Stanislaw Szpak, P. A. Mosier-Boss, Melvin H. Miles, Lawrence Forsley

10:35 AM

6

 

From the proof of principle to a working prototype
Antonella De Ninno

11:00 AM

7

 

Practical use of nuclear quadrupole and internal magnetic field augmented LENR
Dennis Cravens, Rod Gimpel, Vince Golubic

New Energy Technology -- Next Session

ENVR

Sunday, March 22, 2009


1:30 PM-5:15 PM Hilton -- Alpine Ballroom West, Oral

New Energy Technology

Low Energy Nuclear Transmutation

Sponsored by:

ENVR

Organizer, Presiding:

Jan Marwan

1:30 PM

15

 

Composition of particles in heavy water electrolyte after electrolysis
John Dash, Qiongshu Wang

1:55 PM

16

 

Transmutation with glow discharge
Irina B. Savvatimova, John Dash

2:20 PM

17

 

Reproducible generation of nuclear particles during electrolysis
Richard A. Oriani

2:45 PM

18

 

Nuclear transmutation of isotopes in biological systems: History, models, experiments and perspectives
Vladimir Vysotskii, Alla Kornilova

3:10 PM

19

 

Nanonuclear reactions in condensed matter
Lawrence Forsley, Frank E. Gordon, Pamela A. Mosier-Boss

3:35 PM

20

 

Isotopic changes of elements caused by various conditions of electrolysis
Tadahiko Mizuno

4:00 PM

21

 

Characterization of distinctive materials with which to generate nuclear transmutation
Hideo Kozima

4:25 PM

22

 

Effect of hydrogen stoichiometry (x) on the lattice expansion in metal-Hx systems
Nicolas Amanet

4:50 PM

23

 

Understanding the palladium–hydrogen (deuterium) electrochemistry as crucial step to approach low energy nuclear reactions
Jan Marwan

Previous Session -- New Energy Technology -- Next Session

ENVR

Monday, March 23, 2009


8:30 AM-11:50 AM Hilton -- Alpine Ballroom West, Oral

New Energy Technology

Tritium, Neutron Production and Bubble Fusion

Sponsored by:

ENVR

Organizer, Presiding:

Jan Marwan

8:30 AM

30

 

Characterization of neutrons emitted during Pd/D co-deposition
P. A. Mosier-Boss, Stanislaw Szpak, Frank E. Gordon, Lawrence Forsley

8:55 AM

31

 

Field–assisted electroplating
Julie A. Yurkovic, Stefanie J. Zakskorn, Neil D. Robertson, Hiroaki Saito

9:20 AM

32

 

Anomalous tritium production in CMNS
Xing Z. Li

9:45 AM

33

 

Advances in acoustic inertial confinement bubble nuclear fusion
Robert C Block, Richard T Lahey, Robert I Nigmatulin, Rusi P Taleyarkhan

10:10 AM

34

 

When bubble cavitation becomes sonofusion
Roger S. Stringham

10:35 AM

35

 

Observation of high multiplicity neutron emission events from deuterated Pd and Ti samples at BARC: A review
Mahadeva Srinivasan

11:00 AM

36

 

Observation of neutrons and tritium in a wide variety of LENR configurations: BARC results revisited
Mahadeva Srinivasan

11:25 AM

37

 

Discovery of Erzion nuclear reaction tracks in the space
Yuri N. Bazhutov

Previous Session -- New Energy Technology -- Next Session

ENVR

Monday, March 23, 2009


1:30 PM-4:50 PM Hilton -- Alpine Ballroom West, Oral

New Energy Technology

Excess Heat Production

Sponsored by:

ENVR

Organizer, Presiding:

Jan Marwan

1:30 PM

44

 

Reports of anomalous self-heating events
Steven B. Krivit

1:55 PM

45

 

Twenty year review of isoperibolic calorimetric measurements of the Fleischmann-Pons effect
Melvin H. Miles, Martin Fleischmann

2:20 PM

46

 

“Hot” deuteron generation and charged particle emission during excitation of the deuterium subsystem in metal deuterides
Andrei G. Lipson, Ivan P. Chernov, Alexei S. Roussetski, Aslan Yu. Tsivadze, Boris F. Lyakhov, Yuri P. Cherdantsev, Michael E. Melich, Eugeny I. Saunin

2:45 PM

47

 

Gas-loading experiments for self-sustaining heat in CMNS
Xing Z. Li

3:10 PM

48

 

Excess heat and electrical characteristics of type “B” anode-plate at low energy nuclear reactions
Mitchell Swartz

3:35 PM

49

 

Anomalous heat generation during hydrogenation of carbon hydride
Tadahiko Mizuno

4:00 PM

50

 

Dual laser stimulation of optical phonons in palladium deuteride
Dennis Letts, Dennis Cravens, Peter L. Hagelstein

4:25 PM

51

 

Deuterium gas charging experiments with Pd powders for excess heat evolution
Akira Kitamura, Takayoshi Nohmi, Yu Sasaki, Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Akira Taniike, Akito Takahashi, Reiko Seto, Yushi Fujita

Previous Session -- New Energy Technology -- Next Session

ENVR

Tuesday, March 24, 2009


8:30 AM-11:25 AM Hilton -- Alpine Ballroom West, Oral

New Energy Technology

Low Energy Nuclear Reactions: Theoretical Approach

Sponsored by:

ENVR

Organizer, Presiding:

Jan Marwan

8:30 AM

60

 

Energetics of condensed matter cluster reactions in nanostructured palladium
George H. Miley, Xiaoling Yang, Nie Luo, Heinz Hora

61

 

Texas A&M University: Early days in cold fusion J. M. Bockris presented by J. Marwan

9:20 AM

62

 

Overcoming the Coulomb barrier and related effects through resonant electromagnetic dynamics and quantum mechanics in the Fleischmann-Pons effect
Scott R Chubb Sr.

9:45 AM

63

 

Simulating anomalies in metal deuterides
Peter L. Hagelstein, Irfan U. Chaudhary

10:10 AM

64

 

Understanding low energy nuclear reactions
Antonella De Ninno

10:35 AM

65

 

Basics of deuteron-cluster dynamics by Langevin equation
Akito Takahashi

11:00 AM

66

 

Cold nuclear fusion mechanism at crack tip spearhead located deep under the ground
Anatoly V. Shestopalov

Previous Session -- New Energy Technology -- Next Session

ENVR

Tuesday, March 24, 2009


1:00 PM-2:40 PM Hilton -- Alpine Ballroom West, Oral

New Energy Technology

General

Sponsored by:

ENVR

Organizer, Presiding:

Jan Marwan

1:00 PM

80

 

Physical model and direct experimental observation of water memory and biophysical activity of magnetic-activated water
Vladimir Vysotskii, Alla Kornilova

1:25 PM

81

 

Kinetics in a unique sodium borohydride regenerative fuel cell
George H. Miley, Nie Luo, Xiaoling Yang, Kyu-Jung Kim, Grant Kopec

1:50 PM

82

 

Catching CO 2 in a bowl
John A. Tossell

2:15 PM

83

 

Photoelectrochemical characterization of semiconductor materials for solar water splitting
Todd G. Deutsch, John A. Turner

Previous Session -- New Energy Technology -- Next Session

ENVR

Wednesday, March 25, 2009


6:00 PM-8:00 PM Salt Palace Convention Center -- Hall 5, Poster

New Energy Technology

Sponsored by:

ENVR

Organizer, Presiding:

Jan Marwan

227

 

Low energy nuclear reactions in gas phase experiments: An update
Jean-Paul Biberian

Previous Session -- New Energy Technology

Symposium Grid -- Division of Environmental Chemistry -- Session Listing

_________________________________________________________________

Abstracts

Introducing low energy nuclear reactions

ENVR 1

Jan Marwan, info@marwan-chemie.fta-berlin.de, Research and Development, Dr Marwan Chemie, Rudower Chaussee 29, Berlin, 12489, Germany

In 1989, the subject was announced with great fanfare, to the chagrin of many people in the science community. However, the significant claim of its discoverers, Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, excess heat without harmful neutron emissions or strong gamma radiation, involving electrochemical cells using heavy water and palladium, has held strong. In recent years, LENR, within the field of condensed matter nuclear science, has begun to attract widespread attention and is regarded as a potential alternative and renewable energy source to confront climate change and energy scarcity. The aim of the research is to collect experimental findings for LENR in order to present reasonable explanations and a conclusive theoretical and practical working model. The goal of the field is directed toward the fabrication of LENR devices with unique commercial potential demonstrating an alternative energy source that does not produce greenhouse gases, long-lived radiation or strong prompt radiation. The idea of LENR has led to endless discussions about the kinetic impossibility of intense nuclear reactions with high coulomb barrier potential. However, recent theoretical work may soon shed light on this mystery. Understanding this process is one of the most challenging and perhaps important issues in the scientific world. This review includes previously unpublished studies, new and controversial theories to approach LENR with access to new sources and experimental results. The presentation offers insight into this controversial subject and will help the audience re-evaluate their perspective on LENR for a possible alternative energy source.

Low-energy nuclear reaction research: 2009 ACS update

ENVR 2

Steven B. Krivit, steven1@newenergytimes.com, New Energy Times, 369-B 3rd. St. #556, San Rafael, CA 94901

A science journalist's view of the field of low energy nuclear reactions, historically known as "cold fusion," is presented. The author has investigated innumerable aspects of this controversial subject including its strengths and weaknesses. He has engaged proponents and opponents alike and provides a balanced understanding and view of the field. This talk will be structured along four lines: 1) terminology, 2) brief history, 3) strengths of the fusion claim, and 4) strengths of the weak interaction claim.

Condensed matter nuclear science discoveries

ENVR 3

Scott R Chubb Sr., chubbscott@mac.com, Research Systems Inc, 5023 N 38 St, Arlington, VA 22207 and Talbot A. Chubb, tchubb@aol.com, Research Systems, Inc, 5023 N. 38th St, Arlington, VA 22207.

Fleischmann and Pons discovered that overvoltage electrolysis depositing D + ions onto Pd metal sometimes produced excess heat (F-P effect). Arata and Zhang discovered that deuterium delivered to nanoPd powder produced more consistent excess heat (A-Z effect). McKubre discovered that deuterium fluxing into and out of Pd metal was a requirement for F-P excess heat to become observable (McKubre effect). Iwamura discovered that deuterium flow through Pd metal containing CaO-Pd interfaces produced non-chemical heat (Iwamura effect), A-Z demonstration of an autonomous heater. The above discoveries are examples of catalyzed deuterium fusion technologies by which sustainable energy production can be achieved. The common feature is a requirement for the presence of an atom or ion in a many-centers, i.e., quasiparticle, i.e., Bloch function form. The challenge is to convince others that many-centers nuclear physics is reality.

From cold fusion to condensed matter nuclear science: 20 years of research

ENVR 4

Michael Charles Harold McKubre, michael.mckubre@sri.com, Energy Research Center, SRI International, PS385, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025

After 20 years of continuous study and tens of millions of research dollars spent worldwide it is appropriate to examine the basis for, and confidence in what has been learned since the public announcements of a new effect in March 1989. One fact that seems irrefutable is the existence of a heat effect in the electrolytic deuterium-palladium system that is quantitatively consistent with nuclear, but not chemical heat production. Now established as the Fleischmann-Pons Effect (or FPE) several tasks require further study: 1) certain identification of the pathway from reactant (presumed to be D) to primary product (observed in some experiments to be 4He), 2) quantitative or upper bound definition of the products of secondary or tertiary reactions (the so-called ash), 3) complete development of a mechanistic and quantitatively predictive physical and mathematical model for the reaction process, and 4) evaluation of potential applications of any new phenomena.

 

Twenty year history of LENR research using Pd/D codeposition

ENVR 5

Frank E. Gordon 1, Stanislaw Szpak 2, P. A. Mosier-Boss, pam.boss@navy.mil 2, Melvin H. Miles, melmiles1@juno.com 3, and Lawrence Forsley 4. (1) Code 71000, SPAWAR System Center Pacific, 53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152, (2) Code 71730, SPAWAR System Center Pacific, 53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152, (3) Dixie College Foundation, Dixie State College, 301 North 200 East, Suite 3A, St. George, UT 84770, (4) JWK International Corporation, 7617 Little River Turnpike, Suite 1000, Annandale, VA 22003

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. Besides heat, the following nuclear emanations have been detected using Pd/D co-deposition: X-ray emission, tritium production, transmutation, and particle emission. Experimental details and results obtained over a twenty year period of research will be discussed.

 

From the proof of principle to a working prototype

ENVR 6

Antonella De Ninno, deninno@frascati.enea.it, Agency for New Technologies Energy and Environment, Enrico Fermi 27, Frascati (Rome), 00044, Italy

Concluding the intensive research performed over 20 years and the hundreds of experiments carried out on low energy nuclear reactions (LENR), this brought researchers working in this field to the shared opinion that it is indeed possible to produce nuclear reactions at low input energies. It is time to envisage a research program with the aim to move from the proof of the principle directing the attention towards a working prototype able to produce sustainable cheaply available energy. Major problems still to be solved are: a) the reproducibility of the effect not yet suitable for use by representative users; b) the structural weakness of the cathodes and the inability to resist on several loading-deloading cycles; c) the design of a "reactor" able to collect most of the energy produced and to transfer it to an engine; and d) the existence of nuclear reactions different from d+d production, other nuclear fragments and its potential application. Even though many questions are still open and many problems are in need to be solved, the LENR research has made significant progress in the past that is to be regarded within the framework of scientific acceptance and as serious contribution to create an alternative energy source for our future.

Practical use of nuclear quadrupole and internal magnetic field augmented LENR

ENVR 7

Dennis Cravens, physics@tularosa.net 1, Rod Gimpel, rgimpel@charter.net 2, and Vince Golubic, golubicv@ieee.org 2. (1) Amridge University, PO Box 1317, Cloudcroft, NM 88317, (2) CERG, 1521 Desert Springs Ave., Richland, WA 99352

A theoretical viewpoint has been developed using both the electrical nuclear quadrupole interactions with the phonon induced dynamic electric field gradient tensor and the nuclear magnetic dipole interaction within the metal host lattice via its phonon induced the magnetic field. It is shown that this may result in mechanisms that allow coupling between nuclear states and phonons that permit enhanced low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) and a low radiation pathway marked by thermal release. This theoretical insight has guided a matrix search for materials that would increase the thermal energy output of such systems. The result of this material search that uses metallic additives that enhance LENR effects and the practical applications of such an understanding are shown. Additionally, the initial work seeking a self sustained system with demonstrable output will be discussed along with circuitry considerations.

 

Composition of particles in heavy water electrolyte after electrolysis

ENVR 15

John Dash, dashj@pdx.edu and Qiongshu Wang, qoingshu@pdx.edu. Low Energy Nuclear Laboratory, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207

A cell with a palladium cathode was electrolyzed in series with an identical cell. The electrolyte for both contained heavy water and sulfuric acid. After electrolysis solid particles were collected from the surface of the electrolyte and analyzed with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer. The morphology and composition of some of the particles was observed to change with time.

 

Transmutation with glow discharge

ENVR 16

Irina B. Savvatimova, isavvatim@mail.ru, FSUE SRI SIA "Luch", Zhelezhnodorozhnaya, Podolsk, Moscow Region, 142116, Russia and John Dash, dashj@pdx.edu, Department of Physics & Chemistry, Portland State University, East Hall 101 632 SW Hall, Portland, OR 97207-0751.

The different mass-spectrometry and gamma spectrometry methods show, that low-energy nuclear reactions may be achieved by glow discharge (GD) support that leads to: numerous increase of additional elements from 10 to 1,000 times; shift of isotopic ratios; element transmutation and deviation from natural isotopic abundance during and after the GD experimental support within a timeframe of 3-5 months; weak gamma/X-ray emission after the experiment; alpha-, beta- and gamma emission enhanced when exposing the system to GD; heat effects were observed too. Gamma/X-ray spectrometry and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) confirmed the decay of heavy isotopes (W, Ta) into the same but lighter isotopes for the same deuterium GD experiments. It allows the assumption that heavy isotopes decay in the process of low-energy nuclear reactions supported by glow discharge.

 

Reproducible generation of nuclear particles during electrolysis

ENVR 17

Richard A. Oriani, orian001@umn.edu, Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Past research in this laboratory with CR39 plastic detectors has shown that electrolysis of solutions of lithium salts in either D 2O or H 2O can be accompanied by the generation of nuclear particles within the electrolyte and in the vapor phase above the electrolyte. However, not every electrolysis experiment yielded nuclear particles; reliable reproducibility was not attained. A different technique has now been developed which has successfully demonstrated the production of nuclear particles in each of 25 consecutive electrolysis experiments. Concurrent blank, or control, experiments have negated the possibility that radioactive contamination could have been responsible for the effects observed. Thus, a relatively simple and transparent technique has demonstrated that a nuclear process of an as-yet not understood mechanism can accompany a simple chemical reaction. This paradigm-breaking phenomenon poses a formidable challenge to theoreticians for elucidation of mechanism.

 

Nuclear transmutation of isotopes in biological systems: History, models, experiments and perspectives

ENVR 18

Vladimir Vysotskii, Radiophysical Department, Kiev National Shevchenko University, Vladimirskaya Str. 64, 01033, Kiev, Ukraine and Alla Kornilova, Moscow State University.

The issue of low-energy nuclear synthesis and transmutation of stable and radioactive isotopes in living biological cells together with the experimental investigation of these processes is discussed in detail. This report reviews our experimental findings obtained when studying the anomalous characteristics of nuclear transmutation observed in biological cells (including numerous Kervran's experiments evidencing the nuclear transmutation of chemical elements in animals and plants). This study presents the results of those experiments in which the nuclear transmutation of stable isotopes such as 55Mn+d2= 57Fe, 23Na+ 31P= 54Fe in microbiological clean cultures (Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and microbe syntrophin assemblies can be shown. This report gives evidence for the transmutation process of radioactive isotopes (including decontamination and accelerated deactivation of 137Cs reactor isotope systems) in growing microbe syntrophin assemblies. At optimal conditions, the accelerated decay was found to be 32 times faster in comparison with the natural decay (30 years)! A plausible mechanism with the focus on biological and physical aspects of the nuclear transmutation process that occurs in different isotopes in growing biological systems is suggested and discussed in detail.

 

Nanonuclear reactions in condensed matter

ENVR 19

Lawrence Forsley, JWK International Corporation, 7617 Little River Turnpike, Suite 1000, Annandale, VA 22003, Frank E. Gordon, Code 71000, SPAWAR System Center Pacific, 53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152, and Pamela A. Mosier-Boss, bossp@spawar.navy.mil, Code D363, SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego, 53560 Hull Street, D363, San Diego, CA 92152-5001.

Since the March, 1989 announcement by Fleischmann and Pons of anomalous heat observed during heavy water electrolysis, there has been considerable controversy as to whether or not the observed nuclear reaction products are commensurate with the thermal measurements. Although heat is one of the reaction products, it is an unsatisfactory probe due to the thermal diffusion time delay between the reaction and its detection. Similarly, many reactions may be exothermic, but excess enthalpy doesn't identify the mechanism. Consequently, we have concentrated upon observing, and when possible, temporally, spatially and spectrally resolving, nuclear reaction products occurring with the Pd:D co-deposition system loaded to near unit stoichiometry. We have monitored cathodes incorporating various witness materials that respond to these nuclear emanations, including neutron-induced reactions. SEM microphotographs have shown a range of structures, from larger than 10 microns to smaller than 1 micron. The structure's size relates to the nuclear channels activated.

 

Isotopic changes of elements caused by various conditions of electrolysis

ENVR 20

Tadahiko Mizuno, mizuno@qe.eng.hokudai.ac.jp, Department of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita13 Nishi 8, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan

Palladium cathodes were subjected to electrolysis for prolonged periods of time in a heavy water solution at high pressure, temperature, and current density of 0.2 A cm -2. Many elements were then found and detected on the palladium surface and confirmed using several different analytical methods. These are apparently reaction products, several elements ranging from hydrogen to lead with mass numbers up to 208. The isotopic abundance of selected elements detected after long term electrolysis was found to be drastically different to the natural isotopic abundance. This phenomenon was confirmed eight times with good reproducibility. All sources of contamination have been carefully eliminated by repeated pretreatments of the sample and the electrolysis system. From the results obtained, our conclusion is that a nuclear reaction took place during the electrolysis.

 

Characterization of distinctive materials with which to generate nuclear transmutation

ENVR 21

Hideo Kozima, hjrfq930@yahoo.com, Director, Cold Fusion Research Laboratory, 597-16 Yatsu, Aoi, 421-1202 Shizuoka, Japan

Low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) as part of condensed matter nuclear science (CMNS) and as one of the most controversial topics in science recently attracted widespread attention when it had come to the decision to re evaluate the almost forgotten experimental data generated over many years starting in 1989 with the Pons-Fleischmann experiment. However, the current status of this research does not allow an unambiguous explanation in giving the reasoning for D-D collisions at room temperature, at least, not on the basis of conventional knowledge. Therefore, in this presentation we attempt to briefly outline a new approach with which to explain the physics of LENR, and here, in discussing this issue, we distinguish between three kinds of materials with which LENR effects may be likely to be observed: 1) transition-metal hydrides/deuterides, 2) hydrocarbons, and 3) biological cells. We present an extensive phenomenological investigation on LENR effects describing, based on TNCF and ND models, the most crucial factors, to our mind, responsible to achieve D-D collisions. The most interesting common factor can be seen in the physical characteristics of the host nuclei that stays in strong interaction with the deuterons absorbed and placed within interstitial sites of the host lattice.

 

 

Effect of hydrogen stoichiometry (x) on the lattice expansion in metal-Hx systems

ENVR 22

Nicolas Amanet , armanetnicolas@hotmail.com, HERA (Hydrogen Energy Research Agency), Corso della Repubblica 448, Velletri, 00049, Italy

In this work we study the influence of hydrogen loading in different metal wires such as palladium, nickel and others, on the electrical resistance of the wire, its elongation and its metallurgical properties. Thermal investigations are also made. Loading is generated by electrolysis of light water with various electrolytes. Hydrogen concentration is indirectly determined by means of relative electrical resistance. Resistance is measured by passing an AC current in parallel to the DC current used for electrolysis. Thermal studies are obtained by mass flow calorimetry.

 

 

Understanding the palladium–hydrogen (deuterium) electrochemistry as crucial step to approach low energy nuclear reactions

ENVR 23

Jan Marwan, info@marwan-chemie.fta-berlin.de, Research and Development, Dr Marwan Chemie, Rudower Chaussee 29, Berlin, 12489, Germany

Electrochemical deposition of metals from hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline phases produces metal films with a unique ordered nanostructure in which the cylindrical pores of 1.7 to 3.5 nm running through the film are arranged in hexagonal arrays. Nanostructured Pd films were deposited electrochemically from the hexagonal template mixture. Electrochemical studies showed that the metal films have a high electroactive surface area with the specific surface area of the order of 91 m 2/g. These values together with the TEM and X-ray data are consistent with the expected H 1 nanostructure. The hydrogen region of nanostructured Pd in the cyclic voltammetry in 1 M sulphuric acid was more resolved than that of plain Pd because of the thin walls of the nanostructure and the high surface area. We could distinguish the hydrogen adsorption and absorption processes. The permeation of hydrogen (deuterium) into the Pd metal lattice occurs with fast kinetics when the Pd surface is blocked by either crystal violet or Pt. We believe that the hydrogen absorption process takes place without passing through the adsorbed state so that hydrogen diffuses directly into the Pd bulk. This process speeds up when the formation of adsorbed hydrogen is suppressed by the coverage of poisons. We think that the detailed investigation of the Pd-H(D) electrochemistry using the nanostructure might be an important issue to approach low energy nuclear reactions.

 

Characterization of neutrons emitted during Pd/D co-deposition

ENVR 30

P. A. Mosier-Boss, pam.boss@navy.mil 1, Stanislaw Szpak 1, Frank E. Gordon 2, and Lawrence Forsley 3. (1) Code 71730, SPAWAR System Center Pacific, 53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152, (2) Code 71000, SPAWAR System Center Pacific, 53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152, (3) JWK International Corporation, 7617 Little River Turnpike, Suite 1000, Annandale, VA 22003

Experiments using CR-39 detectors have shown that energetic particles and neutrons are emitted during Pd/D co-deposition. Using 6 micron Mylar between the CR-39 and the cathode, it has been shown that the majority of the tracks formed have energies on the order of 1 MeV. This conclusion was supported by computer analysis of the pits using the ‘Track_Test' program developed by Nikezic and Yu. In this communication, additional analysis of the chips will be discussed. In particular, it will be shown that the size distribution of the neutron-generated tracks on the back side of the CR-39 detectors indicate that DD and DT fusion reactions are occurring. This is supported by the presence of triple tracks and double tracks on the front surface of the CR-39 as well as the energies of the charged particles as determined in the Mylar experiments. Uses of neutrons for energy production and other applications will be discussed as well.

 

Field–assisted electroplating

ENVR 31

Julie A. Yurkovic, the1julz@gmail.com, Stefanie J. Zakskorn, szakskorn@gmail.com, Neil D. Robertson, neildrobertson@gmail.com, and Hiroaki Saito, mechauru@hotmail.com. University of California San Diego, 2903 Cliff Cir, Carslbad, CA 92010

The 2007 senior class of chemical engineers at the University of California at San Diego was presented with several possible projects to study over a 20-week period. One group was given the opportunity to study the low-energy nuclear reaction (LENR) experiments conducted by SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego and to attempt replication of one of their LENR experiments. The presentation will consist of discussions of the field assisted electroplating experiments conducted by this group. Specifically the following topics will be addressed: (1) learning how to electroplate with copper efficiently ; (2) studying the effects of external electric and magnetic fields during copper electroplating; and (3) transitioning from field-assisted copper electroplating to the electrodeposition of Pd/D on Cr-39 detectors.

 

Anomalous tritium production in CMNS

ENVR 32

Xing Z. Li, lxz-dmp@tsinghua.edu.cn, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Garden, Building for School of Science, #3401, Beijing, 100084, China

In 1989 DOE ERAB report stated "Investigations designed to check the reported observations of excess tritium in electrolytic cells are desirable". We are going to scrutinize the anomalous phenomena related to the tritium production before and after 1989. The anomalous tritium production was found in metal deuterides in 18 technical-grade metals and semiconductors, in gas-discharge, in electrolysis, in gas-loading, even in chemical explosions, etc. The experimental evidences are so compelling that the opponents could not deny the existence of the tritium, but attributed it to some fictitious frauds. The selective resonant tunneling theory would be applied to explain this tritium production in condensed matter nuclear science (CMNS). The tritium production has justified the necessity of neutrino detection in metal deuterides.

 

 

Advances in acoustic inertial confinement bubble nuclear fusion

ENVR 33

Robert C Block 1, Richard T Lahey 1, Robert I Nigmatulin 2, and Rusi P Taleyarkhan, rusi@purdue.edu 3. (1) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, (2) Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, (3) College of Engineering, Purdue University, 400 Central Drive, Nuclear Engineering Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1290

This paper provides an update on key developments since the first public announcement of the discovery of acoustic inertial confinement (bubble) nuclear fusion. A theoretical foundation for supercompression of acoustically driven deuterated bubble clusters has also been developed and published. Initially, bubble fusion experiments used external neutron sources for nucleating bubble clusters and despite compelling evidence lingering doubts remained due to the use of external neutrons for maintaining the chain reaction. This was overcome in 2006 using a self-nucleation method. In these novel experiments, seeding of nanometer bubbles was accomplished using alpha recoils from dissolved uranyl nitrate salt. Bubble fusion experiments have been successfully replicated in public demonstrations and by unaffiliated groups of scientists, and the results confirmed and reported at least four times since 2005. Speculative statements on bubble fusion have been addressed and dismissed as unfounded and misguided. A full-scope three-dimensional Monte Carlo based study was recently completed and published in archival journal after peer review in 2008. Self-nucleated and external neutron nucleated bubble fusion experiments were modeled and analyzed for neutron spectral characteristics for all successful published bubble fusion studies. The results of this archive confirm for the record that confusion and controversies caused from past reports in Nature have resulted from neglect of important details of bubble fusion experiments. Results from the successful bubble fusion studies and the 2008 archive demonstrate that ice-pack shielding between detectors and source, gamma photon leakage and neutron pulse-pileup due to picosecond duration neutron pulse emission play important roles in affecting the spectra of neutrons from D-D thermonuclear bubble fusion experiments.

 

When bubble cavitation becomes sonofusion

ENVR 34

Roger S. Stringham, firstgate@earthlink.net, First Gate Energies, 4922 Akai Pl, Kilauea, HI 96754

Twenty years have passed since the headlines of a unique energy making process, cold fusion. Immediately following, Photosonication Consulting's heat effects on partially melted and discolored Pd foil were noted in D 2O experiments. Three years later, with an improved device, EQuest Science continued experiments. Results: standing wave patterns, target foil surface ejecta sites, excess heat from calorimetric measurements, and helium and tritium mass spectra detection. In 1998 First Gate Energies was started and moved from the 20 and 40 KHz massive devices to 1.6 MHz 20 gm devices. These produced about the same excess heat but had 0.0001 the mass and a much-improved performance over the higher mass devices. This cavitation process, sonofusion, shows none of the expected radiation. This can be explained by the very high transient, picosecond, densities experimentally produced. A path that explains the experimental sonofusion results is supported by parallel research in hot inertial confined fusion.

 

Observation of high multiplicity neutron emission events from deuterated Pd and Ti samples at BARC: A review

ENVR 35

Mahadeva Srinivasan, chino37@gmail.com, Physics Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai (Retired), 25/15, Rukmani Road, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai, 600090, India

In “LENR” devices, are neutrons generated one at a time in a random fashion following Poisson statistics or in bursts of 2, 3, 5 or even 10 neutrons as in a spontaneous fission neutron source? The multiplicity distribution of neutron emission shed some light on the mechanism responsible for neutron generation - are there chain nuclear events for example? The statistical time spread that occurs during the slowing down process when a bunch of simultaneously produced fast neutrons impinges on a large hydrogenous moderator assembly, inside which a bank of thermal neutron detectors such as 3He counters are embedded, is exploited for detecting the neutrons separately in a time resolved manner. Studies carried out at BARC both with a Pd cathode electrolytic cell as well as a gas loaded TiD target indicated that about 15 % of the neutrons produced could be in bunches of over 10 neutrons.

 

 

Observation of neutrons and tritium in a wide variety of LENR configurations: BARC results revisited

ENVR 36

Mahadeva Srinivasan, chino37@gmail.com, Physics Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai (Retired), 25/15, Rukmani Road, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai, 600090, India

Early in April 1989 the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, embarked on a massive experimental campaign involving close to 50 scientists to investigate whether there was any basis to the reported claims of occurrence of “fusion reactions” at room temperature in Pd-D 2O electrolysis cells. Deuterium gas/plasma loaded titanium targets as well as nickel-light hydrogen electrolytic systems were also studied for nuclear debris. Within weeks the production of neutrons and tritium was confirmed in over a dozen independent experimental configurations, with neutron yield being almost eight orders of magnitude smaller than that of tritium. This so called “branching ratio anomaly” has since been identified as a unique signature of lenr devices by other groups around the world. Autoradiography of deuterium gas/plasma loaded cold working titanium metal targets indicated that tritium production occurs primarily in localized hot spots, predominantly defect sites created during machining of the electrodes/targets.

 

 

Discovery of Erzion nuclear reaction tracks in the space

ENVR 37

Yuri N. Bazhutov, bazhutov@izmiran.ru, Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radiowave Propagation (RAS), Troitsk, Moscow Region, 142092, Russia

To give reasonable explanations for the intensive cover of the top ream film of solid-state detectors by pits of high ionization and small depth after exposure in a free space on the satellite orbit, we suggest a mechanism to demonstrate the nuclear interaction between the hypothetical neutral cosmic Erzion tracks with organic matter. The hypothesis to claim the existence of stable massive hadrons in cosmic rays, historically named as Erzions, for the first time has been put forward to explain the abnormal flat vertical cosmic muons spectrum. In later studies, a theoretical interpretation has been found to be useful in creating the Erzion model to understand the interactions at low energy, and in this context the first preliminary results were obtained. Within the framework of the Erzion model, the low energy neutral Erzion tracks (E~10keV) penetrate into the organic film substrate due to catalytic cyclic nuclear exchange reactions that create the big quantity (~10 6) of recoil nuclei ( 3H, 12C, 14C, 15N…) with energy of 0.1-5 MeV. To check this hypothesis the search for tritium and radiocarbon ( 14C) in materials has been found to be crucial and was performed by radiochemical methods. The depth distribution of such tracks viewed under a high resolution microscope has been investigated and the film calibration in a beam of nuclei such as hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon with energy of 0,1-5 ÌýÂ has been carried out. The results of such a calibration and the finding of tritium and radiocarbon in exhibited films of tracks with depth distribution confirmed the existence of the Erzion nuclear reactions.

 

 

Reports of anomalous self-heating events

ENVR 44

Steven B. Krivit, steven1@newenergytimes.com, New Energy Times, 369-B 3rd. St. #556, San Rafael, CA 94901

Several rare reactions have been reported, many of them anecdotal and none of them repeatable at will. Regardless, some reports have been documented, and all have been of sufficient magnitude to warrant notice. In 1992, Fleischmann and Pons did not replenish the electrolyte in a cell and allowed it to run dry. When the electrolytic circuit was broken as a result of the absence of the electrolyte, the cell continued to give off excess heat for three hours. A Kel-F plastic support melted, indicating temperatures above 300°C. At an MIT symposium in the early 1990s, Lawrence Forsley of JWK Technologies Inc. reported on a cell in which the electrolytic current was turned off momentarily. The cell had been running at 80°C, at equilibrium, for one day. After the abrupt power interruption, the cell temperature shot up to 125°C, cracked a plastic insulator, and boiled off all the electrolyte – at a power input far below that required for Joule heating. In the early 1990s, Mizuno of Hokkaido University reported the boil-off of a cell initially running 24 Watts of input power that, in its last eight days with current turned off, boiled more than 15 liters of water. Mizuno had placed the cell in a bucket of water after disconnecting it from the power supply. According to his calculations, during the time the cell was turned off, it evaporated enough water to account for 8.2 x 10 7 joules of energy. Other researchers reporting excess heat after boil-offs are Giuliano Mengoli of the Instituto di Polarografia in Italy and Miles of the U.S. Navy's China Lake Weapons Center.

 

Twenty year review of isoperibolic calorimetric measurements of the Fleischmann-Pons effect

ENVR 45

Melvin H. Miles, melmiles1@juno.com, Dixie College Foundation, Dixie State College, 301 North 200 East, Suite 3A, St. George, UT 84770 and Martin Fleischmann, N/A, Bury Lodge, Duck Street, SP3 6LJ, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wilts, United Kingdom.

Important advantages exist for selecting a Dewar type isoperibolic calorimeter for measurements of anomalous excess enthalpy produced by the Fleischmann-Pons effect(FPE). These advantages include a wide dynamic range, high accuracy, direct visual observations inside the cell, and heat transfer mainly by electromagnetic radiation. Various generations of the FP calorimetry are described along with the mathematical modeling. The use of control experiments show that the anomalous excess power is measurable within 0.1 mW using this electrochemical calorimetry. The applications of isoperibolic calorimetry at various other laboratories is discussed. The correct equations for modeling isoperibolic calorimetry using open cells are now well established. These calorimetric equations were used to evaluate the Caltech, MIT, and Harwell (U.K.) isoperibolic calorimetry performed in 1989. It appears that objectivity was sacrificed by these three influential institutions in order to hastily obtain the desired result of no anomalous excess power effects.

 

“Hot” deuteron generation and charged particle emission during excitation of the deuterium subsystem in metal deuterides

ENVR 46

Andrei G. Lipson, lipson@illinois.edu 1, Ivan P. Chernov, chernov@tpu.ru 2, Alexei S. Roussetski, rusets@x4u.lebedev.ru 3, Aslan Yu. Tsivadze, tsiv@phyche.ac.ru 1, Boris F. Lyakhov 1, Yuri P. Cherdantsev 2, Michael E. Melich, melich@alumni.rice.edu 4, and Eugeny I. Saunin 1. (1) A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31 Leninsky Prospect, Bldg. 4, 119991 Moscow, Russia, (2) Department of Physics, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 30 Lenin Square, 634050 Tomsk, Russia, (3) P.N. Lebedev Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 53 Leninsky Prospect, Moscow, Russia, (4) Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943-5000

Recent ab initio theoretical studies of D-desorption in metal deuterides with a high hydrogen solubility showed that the excitation of the hydrogen subsystem results in plasmon formation leading to the generation of a strong electric field (F ~ 10 8 V/cm) within a lattice parameter scale of a ~ 0.3-0.4 nm. As a result, significant amount of energy, correlated with desorbing deuterons, has been released reaching values of several eV (3-4 eV), effectively producing “hot” deuterons. This deuteron acceleration process, alongside with possible large electron screening in the metal targets, could potentially enhance the yield of DD-reactions in metal deuterides. Using the CR-39 track detector technique, we showed that the electron beam stimulation of the D-desorption process of Pd/PdO:Dx and TiDx targets is caused by statistically enhanced emissions of DD-reaction products (3 MeV protons and high energy alpha particles).

 

 

Gas-loading experiments for self-sustaining heat in CMNS

ENVR 47

Xing Z. Li, lxz-dmp@tsinghua.edu.cn, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Garden, Building for School of Science, #3401, Beijing, 100084, China

In 1992, Pons and Fleischmann published their 'Heat after Death' work. It showed that electrolysis was not necessary for 'excess heat', Instead, a deuterium flux on the surface of the palladium electrode might be necessary to generate 'excess heat'. Moreover, it also showed that the high loading was not necessary; however, the higher working temperature might be useful to achieve the 'excess heat' due to the diffusive nature of deuterium flux through palladium. Three sets of gas-loading experiments have been carried out along this research direction: a long-thin palladium wire (250 cm X 0.008 cm) at 50°C, 100°C, and 120°C; a thin wall palladium tube (2.3cm X 0.4cm X 0.01cm) at 140°C; a bunch of 5 thin wall palladium tubes (20cm X 0.3cm X 0.008cm) at 140°C. It verifies the early Fralick gas-loading experiment using hydrogen purifier. In addition, the direction of diffusive deuterium flux is different in this new set of experiment, crucial in order to build a self-sustaining heater in condensed matter nuclear science (CMNS).

 

Excess heat and electrical characteristics of type “B” anode-plate at low energy nuclear reactions

ENVR 48

Mitchell Swartz, mica@theworld.com, JET Energy, Inc, Wellesley, MA 02481

We report the excess heat and metallurgical electrical behavior of type "B" (anode plate) Pd/D 2O/Pt Phusor-type LENR devices, driven at their optimal operating point (OOP). They were examined for 4-terminal Pd conductivity, near-IR emission, and both calorimetric and heat flow measurements. The excess heat generated, based on the input power normalized delta-T data was ~175% [peak input power 1.99 watts, at the end 2.14 volts]. Using synchronous 4-terminal measurements, prior to and during excess heat, there is a supralinear rise of intrapalladial electrical resistance for applied voltages (to the solution) >78 volts. In addition, there are two temporal components to intrapalladial conductance that decreases to loading for these 6-terminal devices. The shorter time constant (<5 seconds) is unlikely to be due to deuteron loading. We discuss several possibilities, including possible electrodynamic ordering of the intrapalladial deuteron lattice.

 

 

Anomalous heat generation during hydrogenation of carbon hydride

ENVR 49

Tadahiko Mizuno, mizuno@qe.eng.hokudai.ac.jp, Department of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kitaku kita13 nishi8, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan

We observed anomalous heat generation during the process of heating a small quantity of phenanthrene that was put in a cylinder with a Pt catalyzer and filled with high pressure hydrogen gas. It is very difficult to explain the total energy generation on the basis of a conventional mechanism that describes the chemical reaction chain, because almost all of the phenanthrene and hydrogen gas remained in the reaction chamber as if it was before starting the experiment. There were no reaction products such as other chemical compounds. The heat generation sometimes reached values of 0.1kW and continued for several hours. Moreover, we have confirmed gamma ray emission at the same time. In particular cases, we observed that both processes, heat generation and gamma ray emission, were running simultaneously as processes correlated to each other. We confirmed the same result that shows good reproducibility by specifically taking care of the temperature and the pressure control within the reactor.

 

Dual laser stimulation of optical phonons in palladium deuteride

ENVR 50

Dennis Letts, lettslab@sbcglobal.net, 12015 Ladrido Lane, Austin, TX 78727, Dennis Cravens, physics@tularosa.net, Amridge University, P.O. Box 1317, Cloudcroft, NM 88317, and Peter L. Hagelstein, plh@mit.edu, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139.

In work reported previously (Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions Sourcebook2008, American Chemical Society, 337-352), two laser beams irradiating a deuterated palladium cathode at a single spot induced significant thermal increases many times larger than expected from laser heating alone. This effect was observed only when the lasers were tuned to produce a beat frequency near specific frequencies (around 8 THz, 15 THz and 20 THz). These preliminary experiments support the conjecture that optical phonons are involved in the heat producing mechanism. In recent experiments, results from more than 20 runs appear to confirm the three thermally sensitive frequencies at 8, 15 and 20 THz. Further, the experiments allowed us to identify the approximate width of each heat-producing frequency and produce a crude thermal response spectrum.

 

Deuterium gas charging experiments with Pd powders for excess heat evolution

ENVR 51

Akira Kitamura, kitamura@maritime.kobe-u.ac.jp 1, Takayoshi Nohmi 1, Yu Sasaki 1, Tatsuya Yamaguchi 1, Akira Taniike 1, Akito Takahashi, akito@sutv.zaq.ne.jp 2, Reiko Seto 2, and Yushi Fujita 2. (1) Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukaeminamimachi, Higashinadaku, Kobe, 658-0022, Japan, (2) Technova Inc, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyodaku, Tokyo, 100-0011, Japan

We have started a series of deuterium (and hydrogen) gas charging experiments with Pd nano-powders to study possible heat evolution and D (or H)-loading characteristics by using a revised Arata-type twin system. The twin system is made of identically designed A1 and A2 systems, in each of which an inner gas-charging cell with flow calorimeter and an outer vacuum chamber are set up. The A1 system is used for D-gas foreground run, and the A2 system is for the H-gas blank run. Our first data with two commercially available Pd powders (0.1 micron Pd particles and Pd-black) are already meaningful. Experiments with Pd-black sample gave 2.6 kJ/g-Pd excess heat for the second phase of 1,300 minutes operation and D/Pd=0.85 for the first phase (about 100 min interval from start) with zero D-gas pressure. No excess heat with H-gas charging was seen with H/Pd=0.78. Experiments with 0.1 micron Pd powders gave D/Pd =0.45 for the first phase and much less excess heat for the second phase. We are extending experiments for nano-fabricated Pd samples to be reported at the meeting. In situ radiation monitors are for neutron and gamma-ray. Elemental analysis of "before/after" samples is done by PIXE. 4He detection will be also tried.

 

Energetics of condensed matter cluster reactions in nanostructured palladium

ENVR 60

George H. Miley , ghmiley@uiuc.edu 1, Xiaoling Yang, yangx2007@gmail.com 1, Nie Luo, nluo@uiuc.edu 1, and Heinz Hora, hora@phys.unsw.edu.au 2. (1) Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 100 NEL, 103 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, (2) Department of Theoretical Physics, University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia

Swimming electron layer (SEL) theory of heavy “complex nuclei” was proposed earlier to explain the nuclear reaction products observed in electrolytic cell experiments that used multi-layer thin films of metals on mm-size plastic beads. More recently a modified condensed matter deuterium cluster model has been developed to further explain this combined with related electrolytic cell experiments. As found in the original experiments and later thin film electrode studies, excess heat is also obtained from low energy nuclear reactions (LENRs) using these electrodes, and the condensed cluster theory also predicts that. As a result of this added understanding of cluster formation and reactions, a new class of electrodes has been designed to enhance cluster formation. These electrodes utilize a nano-manufacturing technique that mimics normal dislocation loop structures but with a high density per unit volume. The basis for this electrode concept was originated in earlier studies of low temperature superconductive states formed in dislocation loops and created by cyclic loading-deloading of H/D thin-film palladium electrodes. Further details about these new electrodes along with preliminary test results will be provided. Design concepts for use of these electrodes for hydrogen storage and also for LENR power units will be presented

 

Overcoming the Coulomb barrier and related effects through resonant electromagnetic dynamics and quantum mechanics in the Fleischmann-Pons effect

ENVR 62

Scott R Chubb Sr., chubbscott@mac.com, Research Systems Inc, 5023 N 38 St, Arlington, VA 22207

I argue that the real barrier for understanding how cold fusion reactions can take place, in the Fleischmann-Pons effect (FPE), is not overcoming the “Coulomb Barrier” but involves understanding related to how reactions can occur, based on the known laws of quantum mechanics. A key aspect of this is recognizing that quantum mechanics does not require that the “picture” that is used in conventional fusion should apply. By including a more appropriate “picture” that includes electromagnetism in a time-dependent fashion and the idea that many particles can be involved, seemingly “impossible” aspects of the “conventional picture” become “not so impossible,” and, in fact, become “quite reasonable.” In the paper, details about how this can take place are explained. A particular mechanism involving resonant electromagnetic dynamics is discussed. The associated picture is consistent with the known laws of physics, and the underlying ideas suggested by Giuliano Preparata.

 

Simulating anomalies in metal deuterides

ENVR 63

Peter L. Hagelstein, PLH@aol.com, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 36-570, Cambridge, MA 02139 and Irfan U. Chaudhary, irfanc@mit.edu, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

Simple models for the loading of Pd cathodes with hydrogen or deuterium are proposed which allow one to better understand the interstitial concentration and chemical potential profiles within the cathode. Simple models for interstitial diffusion are used to study loading dynamics within the cathode, and to understand the connection between bulk resistance measurements and surface interstitial concentration. Excess heat production appears to be correlated with the release of 4He into the gas. The delay in helium release is connected to the depth of active sites, as is the total amount of helium released. Modeling of helium diffusion can be used to infer the active site profiles near the cathode surface. Helium accumulation is proposed to limit maximum power production, suggesting that higher maximum power should be obtained when the temperature is increased, as has been reported in several experiments.

 

 

Understanding low energy nuclear reactions

ENVR 64

Antonella De Ninno, deninno@frascati.enea.it, Agency for New Technologies Energy and Environment, Enrico Fermi 27, Frascati (Rome), 00044, Italy

The experimental activities on nuclear reactions at room temperature started at ENEA soon after the paper by M. Fleishmann and S. Pons in March 1989. As physicists we were very excited about the chance of a new class of nuclear phenomena inside condensed matter. Therefore, we decided to use the competence in solid state physics of our group and the skill of our technicians, in order to get rid of the puzzle, also involving other colleagues with complementary expertise in chemistry and nuclear particle detection. We have been working for more than 13 years to know what kind of questions to address in solving one of the most mysterious issues with which the nature ever challenged us and, after long term and intensive research, we found ourselves able to give a reasonable problem solving explanation. In this talk I will report on the history of a scientific project that, from all the results obtained, gives unambiguous evidence for low energy nuclear reactions in condensed matter.

 

Basics of deuteron-cluster dynamics by Langevin equation

ENVR 65

Akito Takahashi, akito@sutv.zaq.ne.jp, Technova Inc, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyodaku, Tokyo, 100-0011, Japan

Pertaining to the quantum mechanics, the basics of our approach using the stochastic differential equation (Langevin equation) is written for quantifying dynamic motion of known molecules as D 2 +, D 2 and D 3 + as well as D-atom state. Role of the Platonic symmetry in these known molecules are discussed for deducing simple one-dimensional (Rdd dependent; here Rdd is distance between nearest d-d pair) Langevin equation and making ensemble averaging to obtain equation for expected values. The methodology is applied for more complicated D-clusters as 4D/TSC and 6D/OSC which would keep the Platonic symmetry, by introducing the force fluctuation deviating from the ideal Platonic symmetry. Time-dependent TSC and OSC trapping potentials which take balance to getting back to the Platonic symmetry from the distorted states were defined and used for numerical solution of Langevin equation. Finally, time-dependent fusion rate formula for simultaneous 4D interaction was obtained based on the Fermi's golden rule and one-pion exchange potential of strong interaction. The 4D fusion is regarded to cause radiation-less excess heat and 4He ash in metal-deuterium systems under dynamic conditions.

 

Cold nuclear fusion mechanism at crack tip spearhead located deep under the ground

ENVR 66

Anatoly V. Shestopalov, sinergo@mail.ru, Research Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources RAS, Moscow, Russia

Another thermodynamics is needed to explain the CNF (cold nuclear fusion) phenomenon which would be based on balance of in- and out-flows of energies (balance of sinks and sources) rather than on conservation laws. We have developed such a theory at a level of phenomenology for processed fractals. The author proposes that the described phenomenon can occur under the effect of a mechanical energy flow through aligning of defects (conductive channels for this flow) along field force lines. The mechanism of cold nuclear fusion (CNF) for crack tip spearhead developed by the author is thought to fit all cases of CNF described in the scientific literature, e.g., in the fields of asymmetrical plasma electrolysis, sonofusion or sonoluminescence, produced by acoustic cavitation, effect of powerful nanosecond electromagnetic pulses on aqueous solutions of salts and melts of metals, etc.

 

 

Physical model and direct experimental observation of water memory and biophysical activity of magnetic-activated water

ENVR 80

Vladimir Vysotskii, Radiophysical Department, Kiev National Shevchenko University, Vladimirskaya Str. 64, 01033, Kiev, Ukraine and Alla Kornilova, Moscow State University.

The experimental results on studying the water memory and to investigate biophysical and biochemical characteristics of water, activated by a nonionized low frequency magnetic field (MRET water), are presented. This low frequency magnetic field enhanced distinctive modifications of basic physical-molecular properties of distilled water: decrease of viscosity of activated water by 100 or more times in comparison with the same, but nonactivated distilled water; change of electrical conductivity of activated water by 10 or more times with respect to the spectral range of low frequencies; and steep increasing and time-dependent oscillations of pH exponent during several weeks etc. It was discovered that these abnormal characteristics that occurred with activated water lasted for several hours, days or weeks at low temperature. We have estimated the parameters of water memory on the basis of the model provided by the water clathrate nano-cells and the results obtained are close to the experimental data. A theoretical biophysical model is presented to discuss this issue.

 

Kinetics in a unique sodium borohydride regenerative fuel cell

ENVR 81

George H. Miley, ghmiley@uiuc.edu, Nie Luo, nluo@uiuc.edu, Xiaoling Yang, yangx2007@gmail.com, Kyu-Jung Kim, kyujung@illinois.edu, and Grant Kopec, gkopec@gmail.com. Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 100 NEL, 103 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

A unitized direct sodium borohydride regenerative battery-type fuel cell is being developed to compete with other advanced regenerative fuel cells and chemical batteries. In its discharged state, this cell contains an aqueous solution of sodium metaborate in both the anode and cathode sides. During recharge, the cell is designed to electrochemically produce sodium borohydride in the anode and hydrogen peroxide in the cathode. The work described here is focused on cell kinetics based on measurements of the species produced during recharge. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and other supporting measurements are employed. Results confirm that sodium borohydride is electrochemically regenerated in aqueous solution via a one-step process from a solution of sodium metaborate at the anode. It is shown that an optimal pH of order 12-13 balances the stability of any sodium borohydride produced during recharge with the oxidizing species necessary for sodium borohydride oxidation during discharge.

 

Catching CO 2 in a bowl

ENVR 82

John A. Tossell, tossell@chem.umd.edu, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

Increased concentrations of CO 2 in the atmosphere aggravate global climate change. Methods are needed for directly removing CO 2 from the atmosphere, i.e., we need CO 2 absorbers. CO 2 dissolves in DMSO solution to produce HCO 3 - and/or CO 3 -2 anion. A macrocyclic amidourea recently synthesized by Brooks, et al., reacts with CO 2 from the atmosphere in DMSO to form a complex in which a CO 3 group is held by a number of O—H-N H-bonds within a bowl-shaped cavity. We have calculated the structure, stability and vibrational spectra of this complex, using density functional techniques and polarized double zeta basis sets. Both basis set superposition effects and polarizable continuum effects on the complex geometry and stability have been evaluated. We correctly predict that this CO 3 -2 complex (and its HCO 3 - analog) are significantly more stable than the analog complex with Cl -.

 

Photoelectrochemical characterization of semiconductor materials for solar water splitting

ENVR 83

Todd G. Deutsch, Todd_Deutsch@nrel.gov and John A. Turner, John_Turner@nrel.gov. Hydrogen Technologies & Systems Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401

Visible light has sufficient energy to split water, but since water can not directly absorb this radiation, a semiconductor must be used to allow photoelectrolysis. The utilization of solar energy for water splitting requires a semiconductor that satisfies several well-defined criteria. Any potentially promising material must be evaluated to determine if the charge carriers (electrons and holes) are injected in to the solution at the appropriate potentials to allow simultaneous reduction and oxidation of water. Then the material absorption efficiency and operational stability must be evaluated to gauge material viability. No known material satisfies all of the requirements necessary for efficient, unbiased water splitting. This paper will summarize our recent findings on a variety of nitride, carbide, and transition metal chalcogenide semiconductor characterizations.

 

Low energy nuclear reactions in gas phase experiments: An update

ENVR 227

Jean-Paul Biberian (author cancelled)