CFRL English News No

This newsletter CFRL News #33 is sent to participants of one of last several ICCFs. Despite of careful check of the mailing list, there may remain duplicates or even triplicates of addresses that will be surely fixed by the next time (at mailing of News #34). If you do not want to receive future issues of this News, please send back this mail without any comment and your address will be eliminated from the list.

If someone participated one of past ICCFs and interested in receiving future issues but not received this News, he/she will receive News #34 and following issues by mailing and asking it to my e-mail address written above.　This News may be too difficult to understand for some people who could not distinguish the difference of the Bohr model and quantum mechanics of the atomic structure.

The main reason I send this issue to so many people is related with my proposal explained in the item 2 of this News #33. Subordinate reason is related with the item 3 to notice a new attack to cold fusion research.

Hoping development of cold fusion research and establishment of solid state-nuclear physics as soon as possible,

This is CFRL News (in English) No. 33 published for Cold Fusion researchers by Dr. H. Kozima, now in Low Energy Nuclear Laboratory and Physics Department, Portland State University.

1-1. The TNCF model (“trapped neutron” catalyzed fusion model) was first proposed at ICCF4 (4^th International Conference of Cold Fusion) held in Hawaii, USA in 1993[1]. This model assumes the existence of a fictitious entity (“trapped neutrons”) with a density n_n (an adjustable parameter) in CF materials with several characteristics that are required to explain experimental data sets. Applying this model, we have systematically and successfully analyzed more than 60 experimental data sets that contained enough information for the analyses. The single adjustable parameter n_n was determined in these analyses giving the range of values of 10⁸ – 10¹³ cm^–3. (n_n= 10⁸ – 10¹³ cm^–3).

1-2 The “trapped neutron” reflected an image of free thermal neutrons trapped in a piece of transition-metal deuterides (or hydrides) just like electrons in “free electron model of metals.”

The number of neutron absorption reactions in a volume dV and a time dτis, therefore, assumed to be ([3] Eq. (11.1))

Naturally enough, interaction of the “trapped neutrons” with another nucleus in the model in this stage was confined in “single neutron–single nucleus” interaction.

1-3 In the investigation of the physical basis of this useful model, we explored the concept of “neutron bands”, a band structure in the energy spectrum of thermal neutrons in solids, which is called appropriately as “neutron conduction bands” because their energies are above zero, i.e. not trapped in any lattice nucleus. This concept is applied to heterogeneous solids with surface layers of different properties for thermal neutrons. Then, it was shown that the density of neutrons near the surface layer becomes very high due to the local coherence of neutron Bloch waves reflected at the boundary [2].

1-4 In the process of CF research, abundant production of nuclear transmutation (NT) of two types is experimentally observed; one is named “NT by decay” (NT_D) and another “NT by fission” (NT_F). NT_Dwas explained quantitatively by the TNCF model as a decay of unstable nuclides formed from elements in the system by absorption of a “trapped neutron”. NT_F is, however, explained qualitatively as fission of similar nuclides [3]. In the explanation, the data by Miley et al. [4] was investigated from our point of view as results of fissions of nuclides formed by single-neutron absorption and the observed mass spectrum was interpreted by empirical law observed in fission products of n–²³⁵₉₂U reactions as:

“This table shows the same tendency observed in the branching ratio of fission products of a composite nuclei formed by the n–²³⁵₉₂U absorption reaction known in Neutron Physics that the larger the difference of masses of product nuclei is, the larger the branching ratio of the fission reaction is, although this fact is not explained yet. It is interesting to notice the same tendency is seen in the curious event, the nuclear transmutation by fission, in the cold fusion phenomenon.” ([3] p.221)

A rather quantitative explanation of this mass spectrum data of NT_Fwas given by Fisher [5] in 1998 using a “polyneutrons” model, a variation of the “trapped neutron” model.

1-5 Fisher’s “polyneutron” is a cluster of high-density neutrons (order of 10³⁵ cm^–3) that is as fantastic an entity as “trapped neutrons’ but has the advantage of multi-neutron absorption for a nucleus. To make intermediate mass-number nuclei such as Pd and Ni to induce a fission reaction, it is necessary to transform them into heavily neutron-excess isotopes or highly unstable states by energy (this is assumed in the explanation by the TNCF model [3]) and therefore multi-neutron absorption is a reasonable idea to explain experimental data sets showing variety of product nuclides in NT_F.

1-6 In the TNCF model, on the other hand, the concept of “local coherence” evolved into a new phase of the formation of a rather realistic “neutron drop” [6] instead of Fisher’s “polyneutron.” Furthermore, we have figured out a concept of “neutron valence bands,” neutron bands below zero (at an energy level of neutron evaporation from a lattice nucleus, nucleus composing the lattice). These bands are formed from the excited states of neutrons in a lattice nuclei that is mediated by occluded hydrogen isotopes in transition-metal hydrides and deuterides [7]. Therefore, it is necessary not only transition metals but also occluded hydrogen isotopes to realize neutron valence bands. This necessary condition is also an experimentally known necessary condition for the CFP, and therefore the CFP might be explained by the formation of “neutron valence bands” with the above mentioned mechanism, from my point of view.

1-7 Neutrons in the “neutron valence bands” are supplied by lattice nuclei and their number density at local coherence can reach, in optimum situations, such high values of 10²³ cm^–3 as the number density of Pd ions in metal; 6.88×10²² cm^–3. It is noticed here that the adjustable parameter n_n in the TNCF model determined from experimental data sets are in the range of 10⁸ – 10¹³ cm^–3 even if it was calculated on the basis of the free neutron picture.

1-8 Formation of the “neutron drop” at the boundary region facilitates simultaneous multi-neutron absorption (νneutrons) by a nucleus. To meet this possibility, it is better to revise the formula (1) as follows:

In this formula, C_ν(T,r) is a constant possibly depending on the temperature and position of the sample where the reaction occurs.

The cross-sectionσ（νｎ,X） is a cross section of the simultaneousν-neutrons absorption by a nucleus X.

Processes of a single neutron absorption in (1’) should be treated as before which is consistent with the formula (1) and then the constant C₁(T,r) is taken as 0.77×10⁵cm s^–^１.

Nuclear fission of medium mass-number nuclei such as Pd and Ni demands largely neutron-excess nuclei formed by this multi-neutron absorption mechanism as pointed out above. Using the above value for the constant C₁(T,r), we may be able to determine the cross section σ(νn,X) for νneutron absorption using experimental data sets.

Other examples of multi-neutron absorption process are observed by Dash et al. in NT_D of Pd into Cd [8] (in the places where is few Ag observed) and Ti into Cr [9] (where is few V observed) by two-step successive beta-decays of unstable nuclides formed by simultaneous absorption of two neutrons. In the analyses of these data, we can determineσ（2ｎ,X）.

1-9 Preliminary estimation of the multi-neutron absorption cross section　　σ(νn,X) for the data by Miley et al. {4} gives fairly large value comparable to σ_nX of usual neutron absorption cross sections if the neutron density is the same in single and multi-neutron absorption; σ(νn,X) ～σ_nX. In the neutron drop, however, the density of neutrons can be as high as 10³¹ cm^–3 close to nucleon density in usual nucleus of 10³⁵ cm^–3 [6]. If we assume existence of the neutron drop, as Fisher assumed his polyneutron, and use this maximum density 10³¹ cm^–3 to the case of multi-neutron absorption by Pd, the value ofσ(νn,X) becomes very small; σ(νn,X) = 10^–18σ_nX. This conclusion seems rather realistic from our common sense in physics than the conclusion σ(νn,X) ～σ_nX.

New experimental data have given information to make a model more realistic and physics of cold fusion more probable.

1-10. The formation of the “neutron valence band” [7] and the “neutron drop” [6] with densities up to 10³¹ neutrons/cm³ remind us the “neutron star matter” with “Coulomb lattice of bound neutron and proton clusters” surrounded by a “dilute neutron gas.” [10,11] ‘Lattice nuclei’ and ‘neutrons in valence bands’ in transition-metal hydrides and deuterides (CF materials) correspond to ‘bound neutron and proton clusters’ and ‘dilute neutron gas’ in neutron star matter at sub-nuclear densities. Differences of two cases are; (1) Existence of boundary in CF materials, (2) Stability of lattice nuclei in CF materials, (3) Forces between nucleons, and (4) Densities of nucleons in CF materials (up to 10³¹ /cm³) and Neutron star matter (more than 10³⁵ /cm³). Detailed discussion of this problem will be presented elsewhere. [12]

References

(1) H. Kozima, "Trapped Neutron Catalyzed Fusion of Deuterons and Protons in Inhomogeneous Solids," Trans. Fusion Technol. (Proc. ICCF4) (1993, Hawaii, USA) 26, 508 (1994). And also Proc. 4th Int. Conf. Cold Fusion (ICCF4)} (1993, Hawaii, USA) 4, 5 (1994).

(2) H. Kozima, K. Kaki and M. Ohta, "Anomalous Phenomenon in Solids Described by the TNCF Model," Fusion Technology 33, 52 (1998).

(3) H. Kozima, Discovery of the Cold Fusion Phenomenon – Evolution of the Solid State - Nuclear Physics and the Energy Crisis in 21st Century, Ohtake Shuppan KK., Tokyo, Japan, 1998.

(4) G.H. Miley, G. Narne, M.J. Williams, J.A. Patterson, J. Nix, D. Cravens and H. Hora, "Quantitative Observation of Transmutation Products Occurring in Thin-Film Coated Microspheres during Electrolysis", Progress in New Hydrogen Energy (Proc. ICCF6) (1996, Hokkaido, Japan), p.629 (1996). And also Cold Fusion 20, 71 (1996).

(5) J.C. Fisher, "Liquid-Drop Model for Extremely Neutron Rich Nuclei" Fusion Technol. 34, 66 (1998).

(6) H. Kozima, "Neutron Drop; Condensation of Neutrons in Metal Hydrides and Deuterides," Fusion Technol. 37, 253 (2000).

(7) H. Kozima, J. Warner and J. Dash "Cold Fusion Phenomenon and Atomic Processes in Transition-metal Hydrides and Deuterides" J. New Energy 6-2, 126 (2002).

(8) S. Miguet and J. Dash, "Microanalysis of Palladium after Electrolysis in Heavy Water", Proceedings of 1st Low Energy Nuclear Reactions Conference, College Station, Texas, p. 23 (1995). And a recent work by C. Salas Cano and J. Dash (to be published).

(9) R. Kopecek and J. Dash, "Excess Heat and Unexpected Elements from Electrolysis of Heavy Water with Titanium Cathodes", Proceedings of 2nd Low Energy Nuclear Reactions Conference, College Station, Texas, p. 46 (1996). And also J. Warner, PhD. Theses, “Interactions of Titanium with Hydrogen Isotopes” Portland State University, 2002.

(10) G. Baym, H.A. Bethe and C.J. Pethick, "Neutron Star Matter," Nuclear Physics A175, 225 (1971).

(11) J.W. Negele and D. Vautherin, "Neutron Star Matter at Sub-nuclear Densities," Nuclear Physics A207, 298 (1973).

(12) H. Kozima, “Clusters of Neutrons and Protons in Neutron Star Matter and in Solids” J. Scientific Exploration (submitted).

2. Proposal to Establish an International Organization, e.g. the International Cold Fusion Society (ICFS)

It is clear that cold fusion research is making progress but the media in which the results are presented is scarce. Therefore, in my opinion, it is desirable to have an organization as an information center for the cold fusion research community throughout the world to compliment existing journals open to cold fusion research.

The International Cold Fusion Society (ICFS) (a tentative name) is an internet-based organization and will be connected with researchers throughout the internet. ICFS will hold a Website (ICFS Website) and play the role of the hub to member websites.

1) Keeping records and supplying information of International Conferences (ICCFs) and other Conferences to members,

2) Posting papers presented at these Conferences and published in journals with a limited circulation,

3) Posting a list of members’ personal websites where personal papers can be posted.

The third activity will replace partly or supplement the present style publishing research results (Journals and Proceedings of Conferences). There is no referee system in this style of paper presentation and responsibility is wholly on the author. The date of posting should be understood as the date of presentation of a paper posted in member’s websites.

To post a new paper in one’s website, the paper should be registered to be posted in the page for new works of the ICFS Website. Anyone can learn about it by searching through the ICFS Website.

This will be a new system of academic activity free from the present systems that are inconvenient for researchers in interdisciplinary fields. Until the establishment of ICFS, all researchers are recommended to maintain their Websites as a part of their academic activity and their experience will be utilized in establishing a better ICFS Website.

A large part of my CFRL Website, especially the part “Cold Fusion Community” will be transferred into appropriate pages in the ICFS Website.

I am sure that this is a new style of academic activity in this information-dominant world. The cold fusion community should have this type of association as soon as possible.

“JCF (Japan CF-research Society) Website” has a link to member’s websites:

The website of “econophysics forum”, also, shows an example with a little bit different purposes from that proposed above:

I hope that as many people in our community participate discussions on this theme as possible through internet or at occasions to have meeting.

Cold fusion phenomenon (CFP) is a very complicated phenomenon and is difficult to understand its meaning not saying its explanation. Such a recent example you can see in the next article. Here, I would like to explain raison d’etre of my CFRL website and this News if it is a tiny effort to clarify riddles of CFP.

Fanatic critics dare deny CFP while genuine scientists like N.F. Ramsay and Peter Hodgson speak the truth frankly.

"---- As a result, it is difficult convincingly to resolve all cold fusion claims since, for example, any good experiment that fails to find cold fusion can be discounted as merely not working for unknown reasons. Likewise the failure of a theory to account for cold fusion can be discounted on the grounds that the correct explanation and theory has not been provided. Consequently, with the many contradictory existing claims it is not possible at this time to state categorically that all the claims for cold fusion have been convincingly either proved or disproved ----" (Cold Fusion Research, November 1989 – A Report of the Energy Research Advisory Board to the United States Department of Energy –, DOE/S--0073, DE90, 005611.)

P. Hodgson, former nuclear physics supreme at Oxford University, told, “While I think that cold fusion is certainly unlikely, I’m not prepared to make statements that the whole thing is complete rubbish.” (Newsweek (Pacific edition), 10/15/2001, Vol. 138, Issue 16, p.51)

It is said that a man criticized Bohr’s idea of stationary circular orbits saying “This assumption is nonsensical because assumption of stationary electron orbit in a force field is in contradiction with electrodynamics.”

This is a typical reaction of a person with a unicellular brain, which often occurs even now.

There had also been lack of understanding about the frequency condition of emitted light from atoms even if A. Einstein instantaneously caught its essential meaning saying:

"Then the frequency of the light does not depend at all on the frequency of the electron. And this is an enormous achievement. The theory of Bohr must be then right."

3-3. CFRL Website and the TNCF model had a ruthless attacker (A.C. hereafter) who tried to eliminate them.

“As you may know, Kozima is a truebeliever (0)` in the phenomenon of so called ‑ cold fusion". He has developed a theory (1) which attempts to explain certain experimental data by assuming the existence of "trapped neutrons" in solids (2) . . . Kozima's theory is based on false premises because most of the "data" that he attempts to explain is almost certainly erroneous (3). . . It is a nonsensical theory invented to explain certain incorrect measurements. . . ..” “In my view, Professor Kozima should not be allowed to place his website on a university server (4).”

“I also believe that Kozima should not have been allowed to use university facilities to give a course on his theory (5).” (Bold faced, underlined and numbered at citation.)

The sentence (0) is the worst raving that has been used frequently by fanatic critics. It is my honor of having this raving and my name in his list of sincere cold fusion scientists who are out of A.C.’s reach:

“I am coming to the conclusion that I live in an entirely different world than any ‘cold fusion scientist’ I have had any dealings with in the past 2 years. These people are: R. George, M. McKubre, T.A. Chubb, Yourself, B.F. Bush, R. Stringham, F.L. Tanzella” (mail from A.C. of Jan. 27). A.C. is simply outside the Medawar zone (cf. http://web.pdx.edu/~pdx00210/Miscllnse/Essays/Gluck.htm) and cannot understand the value of exploring works.

(1) shows that A.C. does not understand the role of a model in trying to understand pioneering work. (2) (and blame for it in following sentence omitted here) is based on A.C.’s shallow understanding of a model. (Ｉｔｅｍs 1 and 3-1 above will help A.C. if A.C. has a scientist’s brain to understand the role of a model in science.) (3) is based on A.C.’s bias that experimental data in CF are almost certainly erroneous. (4) and (5) are based on his ignorance and prejudice concerning science and academic freedom. Arrogance and lack of understanding only make A.C. attack others based on his ignorance and incomplete knowledge.

One can hear but not listen if one’s mind is not there.” (Old Buddhist’s saying.)

According to the biased logic of A.C., experimental data sets of recent work by Clarke et al. (FS&T, Vol.40, p.152 (2001)) are surely nonsensical and rubbish due to a mistake: “Because failure of a pressure sensor in the expansion volume, 90.6 % of the electrode gas was pumped away after a 5-min equilibration time.” (C.f. a letter to the editor from T. Chubb, FS&T, Vol. 41, No. 2, p.151 (2002).)

I have had few visitors to my Website for a long time. Now, I recognize that my website and my model are attracting strong notice from a critic without experience in pioneering research work. Probably, A.C. could not have accepted the Bohr model and quantum theory of the atomic structure. A.C. also probably could not understand the existence of the Medawar zone, where we have to work with the trial-and-error method. Through these works, science has made its progress.

Anyway, the fact of this attack shows that A.C. is a person outside a world with academic freedom and freedom of speech, which are inevitable in science and in modern society. Once upon a time, there were floods of words like “reds”, “Jews”, “blacks”, - - - used as terms to denounce others. A.C. uses “truebeliever” (0) as if it is a person to look down upon. Is this a reality in the science world in 21 century? A.C.’s personality is not compatible to academic society in a democratic world.

4. Sonofusion was detected in Oak Ridge National Laboratory and be reported in Science March 8 issue.

Sonofusion (bubble fusion) caused by high pressure in a bubble in liquids is different from the so-called cold fusion phenomenon (CFP) that occurs without high-energy supply from outside and reasoning of which is not known yet. Sonofusion has been investigated theoretically for years and many papers were presented at past ICCFs. Following work by K. Fukushima is an example:

K. Fukushima, “Sonofusion; Compressibility of Liquid and Stability of Spherical Cavity,” Proc. ICCF5 (Monte-Carlo, Monaco, 1995) p.523 (1995).

It is interesting, however, to know response of people who are ignorant about CFP. It is also useful to look into a baroque mirror sometimes to know how it reflects our faces.

4.1 The article in Science Website reporting the news of sonofusion.

Evidence for Nuclear Emissions during Acoustic Cavitation

R.P. Taleyarkhan et al. Science 295, 1868 (2002)

The report by R. P. Taleyarkhan et al. of observations of tritium decay and neutron emissions associated with the collapse of tiny bubbles in deuterated acetone -- and the possibility that those observations may have arisen from fusion reactions within the imploding bubbles -- has generated substantial attention. In the 8 March 2002 issue of Science, we present the research article by Taleyarkhan et al., as well as three associated items: a Perspective by F. D. Becchetti describing the research and its significance; a news article by Charles Seife on some of the controversy stoked by the paper; and an editorial by Science's Editor in Chief, Donald Kennedy, on why Science decided that "publication is the best option." (Science Website)

4.2 Bob Park reported about the sonofusion as cited below in his WN page of APS Website.

BUBBLE FUSION: A COLLECTIVE GROAN CAN BE HEARD.
A report out of Oak Ridge of d-d fusion events in collapsing bubbles formed by cavitation in deuterated acetone, is scheduled for publication in the March 8 issue of Science magazine. Taleyarkan et al. observe 2.5 MeV neutron peaks, evidence of d-d fusion, correlated with sonoluminescence from collapsing bubbles. Pretty exciting stuff huh? It might be, if the experiment had not been repeated by two experienced nuclear physicists, D. Shapira and M.J. Saltmarsh, using the same apparatus, except for superior neutron detection equipment. They found no evidence for 2.5 MeV neutron emission correlated with sonoluminescence. Any neutron emission was many orders of magnitude too small to account for the tritium production reported by the first group. Although distinguished physicists, fearing a repeat of the cold fusion fiasco 13 years ago, [B. Park is still in his biased state not recognizing the truths of CFP] advised against publication, the editor has apparently chosen not only to publish the work, but to do so with unusual fanfare, involving even the cover of Science. . . .(WN March 1, 2002) (Bracket is at citation.)