The 9 Dec. 2011 NASA Slide Show

http://newenergytimes.com/v2/government/NASA/20111209NASA-Fralick-GRC-LENR-Workshop.pdf


A NASA Patent

Goals of Nuclear Research

The earliest of the recorded motives for nuclear research was the quest to understand the universe. This was followed by a desire to produce gold.  It was supposedly accomplished by turning mercury into gold using platinum as a catalyst. Diocletian ordered the ancient Egyptian writings destroyed to prevent this.  The sale of gold must be reported, but there are exceptions like jewelry.  This motivation was followed by the desire to see in the dark.  An example would be coating the hands of an analogue watch or clock with radium.  The radium gas found in basements with unsealed walls and inadequate ventilation is much more dangerous.  

In the 1920’s, there was the desire to fly by producing helium for use in dirigibles.  The chief methods tried were electrolytic, high voltage discharge and finally using thorium to irradiate paraffin.  However, insufficient helium was produced.  Gaseous hydrogen methods using nickel, palladium or asbestos were used.  C. D. Darwin worked out the mathematics of electromagnetic fields involved.  This research along with Einstein’s Theory immediately prompted research into generating heat and electricity. Finally, the research degenerated into weapon production, U-233 bombs, U-235 bombs, plutonium bombs, hydrogen bombs and finally neutron bombs.  

Teller observed muon catalyzed fusion in a bubble chamber.  Many other types of nuclear reactions were observed at less than the expected energy levels.  However, research into safe forms of nuclear power is discouraged by vested interests. Work on the next generation of fast reactors—clean, resource-efficient, waste-reducing reactors—was halted by Congress in September 1994 and the missions of the National Labs were redirected by the Department of Energy.  

The nation’s supply of U-233 was consolidated at Oak Ridge. Some is being turned into Zero Power Reactor plates. These and U-233 oxide materials are presently being dispersed to various facilities.  Thorium reactor advocates claim that this is a waste of the U-233 which could have been used as a safer nuclear fuel. About 17% of the dangerous waste from a Thorium reactor would still take about 300 years to decay naturally. The depleted uranium, U-234, is being used for artillery shells that disperse it into the atmosphere when fired. Enriched uranium, U-235, is used in nuclear reactors with safety and nuclear proliferation issues arising from the dangerous isotopes produced.  One quarter million tons of nuclear waste has been produced.  Just like the petroleum industry, waste is dispersed or hidden rather than being cleaned up.  Calcium supplementation and white bread were promoted to minimize the intake of radioactive isotopes. In extreme cases where short lived isotopes are present, iodine supplementation is needed.

Weyl’s Quantum Principle

This is an interview with Andrea Rossi in Bologna, Italy on the 12th of January 2012.

Of the 500 some theories that attempt to describe the "Cold Fusion" phenomena, Mr. Krivit lists the following:

 Bazhutov-Vereshkov Theory

 Chubb (Scott) Theory

 Chubb ( Talbot) Theory

 De Ninno Theory

 Fisher Theory

 Gareev Theory

 Hagelstein Theory

 Hora-Miley Theory

 Kim-Zubarev Theory

 Kirkinskii-Novikov Theory

 Kozima Theory

 Li Theory

 Sinha-Meulenberg Theory

 Szpak Theory

 Takahashi Theory

Consequently, I plan to look elsewhere. The source of the anomalous heat from the E-Cat is supposedly unknown. So, whether it comes from pion decay, mesons, positrons, etc., or whatever reaction type and force, one might as well continue to call it "cold fusion" until this is clarified.

The Brightsen Model and the E-Cat

To determine nuclear structure, one uses nonlinear spectroscopy to determine the dynamics of the system.  However, to use nonlinear spectroscopy, one needs a model of the system. 

Do we believe that antimatter nucleon clusters are present as a parton (in the sense of Feynman) in the spacial confinement of the proton?

Do we believe in a close packed sheet model (in the sense of Thompson) or in an icosahedron model?

Do we believe 2-body fusion takes pace or does multibody predominate?

Do we have a self organized critical phenomena?

Do we favor supersymmetric mesons (as extensions of Klein-Gordon) or pions ( in the sense of Brightsen)?

I will study the model of the atomic nucleus by the late nuclear physicist R. Brightsen that views the proton as being the outcome of a quantum superposition of nucleon clusters. One form is to combine a matter [PNP] cluster with an antimatter [N^P^] cluster, where ^ = antimatter. The quantum outcome is a real [P] superposed state bound to an imaginary [NP][N^P^] state. In quark dynamics this resolves into a 6-antiquark bag (d^d^d^u^u^u^) rotating against a 9-quark matter bag (uuuuudddd)--that is, the concept of the nucleon and free quark disappears--the "bags" become the fundamental building blocks of nuclei. It is predicted that formation of colorless pions (d^u) or (u^d) allow for the matter and antimatter bags to bind (via interaction of positive mass and negative mass by gravity and antigravity), leaving (uud) = 1-H-1 (the proton) as the real quantum superposed (unbound) state that we observe. Thus the Brightsen model predicts potential for anti-baryon structure within 1-H-1, plus (important for low energy fusion reactions) that anti-deuteron structure is also part of the internal structure of 1-H-1.

Some are applying this model to analyze the E-Cat:

(This excerpt is from comment 186 on the URL http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/12/the_nuclear_physics_of_why_we.php.
It continues the discussion begun in comment 180.)

The Brightsen Model predicts that beta stable isotopes are made of 2-mass nucleon clusters [NP](deuterium) and 3-mass clusters [PNP](He-3); [NPN](H-3 or tritium). Halo clusters [PP] and [NN] also possible and discussed by Brightsen. The selection rule of how to form any isotope is 3 [NP] = 1 [PNP]+ 1{NPN], this is why all isotopes can have many different possible nucleon cluster configurations (they are called isodynes). So, for example, stable 28-Ni-62 can be: 13[NP]+9[NPN]+3[PNP] or equally possible is the isodyne 1[NP]+13[NPN]+7[PNP]...they are both valid quantum probability wavefunctions of what we call 28-Ni-62 isotope. Many other nucleon cluster configurations also are possible for 28-Ni-62, including the presence of antimatter for all three of the fundamental 2 and 3 mass clusters. The way I try to understand the physical situation is to use the Richard Feynman 'sum-over-history' approach. Thus any isotope is the sum-over-history of all quantum nucleon cluster possibilities, the one we measure breaks the symmetry. So, if you ask, which of the many possible Brightsen nucleon cluster configurations represents 28-Ni-62, the Feynman answer is 'all of them'. The possible Brightsen nucleon cluster configurations can be determined for all 4400+ known beta stable and unstable isotopes from Z = 1 to 118.
Concerning the predictions of the Brightsen Model for the Rossi E-Cat, the previous post I made is a prediction based on statements of Mr. Rossi that no radioactive isotopes are present in the ash at the end of any E-Cat reaction. If this is a true statement, then there cannot be radioactive 28-Ni-59 isotope present in the ash, which there must be if there is an initial reaction of [P] from hydrogen gas with stable 28-Ni-58 isotope (e.g., the radioactive 28-Ni-59 would come from beta+ decay of 29-Cu-59, which is the direct byproduct of reaction of proton [P] with 28-Ni-58 in the powder). So, if it is true that there is no radioactive 28-Ni-59 in the ash of the E-Cat, then the Brightsen Model predicts why it is true, it predicts why a reaction of 28-Ni-58 with a proton [P] from hydrogen gas cannot occur, not at a level that would produce significant excess heat in the high MeV range. However, if we found that radioactive 28-Ni-59 is present in the ash of the E-Cat, then I would need to take a second look at the Brightsen Model to see how this might be explained based on the possible nucleon cluster configurations.
Concerning the 30% copper isotopes reported by some to be present in the ash of the E-Cat. If this is true, the Brightsen Model would predict that it is possible without any reaction of hydrogen gas with stable 28-Ni-58 isotope in the initial powder. We can get ~30% copper in ash from reaction with the four other stable Ni isotopes (Ni-60,61,62,64). The Brightsen Model would predict how each of these reactions would be possible, and the predicted byproducts.

The Brightsen Model

The late Ronald Brightson (Clustron Sciences) presented theoretical and experimental evidence for the validity of his own "Nucleon Cluster Model" (NCM), which predicts that a relatively low-energy photon can promote a nuclear reaction under certain specific conditions. Brightson analyzed the periodicities and systematics of atomic numbers and masses and deduced that all b-stable nuclides are composed of deuterons (NP clusters), tritons (NPN), and He₃(PNP) nuclei.

Brighton's patent application includes a method of remediating nuclear waste by the induction of fission in the radioactive isotopes. The imposition of an external magnetic field that is in resonance with the magnetic moment of a particular nucleon cluster (NP, NPN, PNP) can excite the select cluster (without disturbing other clusters in the target) to burst from the nucleus and perform a transmutation to daughter products of smaller mass and greater stability.

According to his NCM theory, the by-products that will be released from the 28-Ni-62 + H reaction will be pure stable 29-Cu-63 isotope plus neutral pions that will quickly decay (within ~70 nano sec)into low energy gamma ray energy that will heat the water within the E-Cat. Positive and negative pions will also be produced and will be trapped within the walls of the E-Cat before they can decay into matter and antimatter neutrinos and electrons and positrons. Thus the model predicts low energy gamma rays from decay of neutral pions are produced within the E-Cat and that this is the energy that "heats the water". The energy from positive and negative pions that also are produced within the E-cat is absorbed within the metal lattice structure of the E-Cat device. If the reaction is conducted over extended time, H gas will interact with the produced 29-Cu-63 to form stable 30 Zn 64 isotope. Given that the capture reaction cross section in barns (at ~0.025 eV energy) for interaction of H proton with 28-Ni-62 is ~3x greater than interaction with 29-Cu-63, no mass 65 Zn isotope is expected in the ash of the E-Cat until all the 28-Ni-62 is depleted.

The Brightsen Model predicts low energy fusion of {Ni-64 + H} and {Ni-62 + H}
will produce stable isotopes of copper (Cu-65 and Cu-63, respectively), with
no release of any radioactive isotopes, but large amount of energy due to a
matter + antimatter cluster fusion.  The Brightsen Model predicts that
many different nucleon clusters are present in Ni isotopes, but only
one of them (the deuterium [NP] cluster) is available
outside a closed shell to interact with the hydrogen reactant.  This may be
the reason why so little hydrogen is used in the Rossi reaction--it must be
very difficult to get the two required matter and antimatter nucleon
clusters to resonate against each other so as to fuse, one cluster each from
Ni and H.

The Truth about "Cold Fusion" Research

Link to the University of Cambridge Video


You sometimes find information in places you would never expect. The book, Before the Big Bang: The Origins of the Universe, by Ernest J. Sternglass contains an inspiring history of certain aspects of reseach into "cold fusion" or whatever you choose to call this phenomena.

The History of the Development of the E-Cat

The following Transcription and Translation of “TEDxBologna – Sergio Focardi – L’E-cat e la fusione nucleare con il Nichel e l’Idrogeno “ is released under Public Domain by its author Mirco Romanato its author.

00:24 The talk I want to do, I’m starting from the origin, is about what today is called Cold Fusion.
00:30 It started around 22 years ago when an American researcher, an American chemist, stated to have produced energy using a nuclear fusion process obtained using Palladium, a metal, and Deuterium, a heavy Hydrogen.
01:00 After this, many started to work on his path, and after 22 years they have not obtained big results.
01:11 For what regard me, with a friend of the Siena University, decided to work in the same way but using Hydrogen and Nickel and obtained a number of results: production of energy by interactions between Hydrogen and Nickel
01:30 Following this I restarted the work with the Engineer Rossi and we started to work on the same path: building system able to produce energy using hydrogen and nickel
01:54 Now, what we can see are the results of this work.
02:07 There are, this is the first picture, this is one of the first experiments done with Engineer Rossi
02:20 And you can see, at right, there is a small red bucket, containing water and some materials and left the hydrogen canister used to put hydrogen inside this capsule where we had put the nickel.
02:50 Heating together nickel and hydrogen we obtained energy and, as result the heating of the water.
02:58 The experiment is, obviously, very crude, because it was not worth, for this experiment to build more refined objects.
03:10 This is the next experiment. This time, instead of the bucket of water, there is that donut-like object to the right where some water circulated and there was the capsule containing nickel and hydrogen.
03:35 The tube you see at the lower right is to bring hydrogen, at the center there is a canister of hydrogen, and in this way we obtained a confirmation about the previous experiment with a cleaner
system than the previous.
03:53 The third picture, it is another, third, method to measure. This time there is a closed circuit. You are able to see well, in the background at the right, the tube, where is inserted the cylinder, again at the right. In the tube some water was circulated. In this cylinder happen this heating process and it is a nuclear reaction between nickel and hydrogen
04:30 and what we observed experimentally was the difference of temperature between the two extremes of the cylinder
04:37 So, the three experiments confirmed that the system was really able to produce energy under the form of heat. We obtained the heating of the water.
05:00 This it was one of the latter objects built by the Engineer Rossi, that take the name of e-cat, where “cat” is a shorthand for catalyzer, that is used usually and currently, to experiment with the reaction between nickel and hydrogen and produce heat. And the heat produced is demonstrated heating water with various devices and this is one example.
05:50 Now, this is the next product built by Engineer Rossi, again based to the same process, similar to a train wagon (NdR a shipping container) but smaller. Inside we see some boxes and everyone is a generator producing the same effects I described before.
06:31 making work together all these elements, we would have 1 MW of power produced
06:45 This was not already started with all the generators together; it will be before the end of this month. At this time we can say there is a change in the sizes we are talking about. But every box we can see is like the old generators we used to react hydrogen and nickel to obtain heat.
07:17 This is clearly a nuclear reaction as in the experiments we did – we are doing them by two years, two years and half, I don’t remember the exact date we started. At the end of the experiment, when we analyze the materials used, the material put in the capsule, that originally was nickel and hydrogen we find again nickel but also copper.
07:57 Now, the copper is the element following nickel on the periodic scale. It is at its side and the nucleus of copper differ from the nucleus of nickel only because it have a single proton more. Proton that was introduced, captured, by the nickel in a process of nuclear reaction. So when we affirm this is a nuclear reaction between nickel and hydrogen, this is another proof it is not a fantastic statement. We have the proofs, because as result in the end copper is formed.
08:43 Now, one of the problems when we talk about these topics is the problem of safety. And, in this case the danger for the safety is the radioactivity, because being a nuclear reaction people foresee radioactivity emitted in the reaction. This is real, but we are lucky this process produce only gamma rays and not neutrons. I must say I pointed to the danger of neutrons from the start with the collaboration with Rossi; and Rossi, obviously, took the measures needed because, if there would be neutrons, the things would be difficult, because neutrons can be shielded but it is not a simple problem. Luckily there are not neutrons. But there are gamma rays. The presence of gamma ray I have experienced directly, in the first experiments in the laboratory Rossi had in Bondeno, because often I did the measures when Rossi was occupied doing his bidding. I, in the first measures used an instrument detecting radioactivity and measured the gamma rays. Not very dangerous, not big compared to the normal background, but anyway present. And it is obvious there was no reason to raise the natural radioactivity level.
10:40 But we never detected neutrons as this was my main fear because neutron are difficult to shield. But hey never showed. The problem of the gamma rays was solved simply adding, around the generators, small sheet of lead that are able to shield the gamma ray. So we can say, there is no risk of radioactivity when we work in this way. This is good not only for us but for when there will be commercial applications.

The MIT Course in Cold Fusion

After listening to MIT explain that the sticking point with solar technology is finding a way to funnel the profits to the big oil companies, I image the situation with cold fusion is pretty much the same.

Cold Fusion 101: Introduction to Excess Power in Fleischmann-Pons Experiments Peter Hagelstein Mon-Fri, Jan 23-27, 30-31, 11am-12:30pm, 4-145, 1/30 class meets in 4-149 No enrollment limit, no advance sign up Excess power production in the Fleischmann-Pons experiment; lack of confirmation in early negative experiments; theoretical problems and Huizenga's three miracles; physical chemistry of PdD; electrochemistry of PdD; loading requirements on excess power production; the nuclear ash problem and He-4 observations; approaches to theory; screening in PdD; PdD as an energetic particle detector; constraints on the alpha energy from experiment; overview of theoretical approaches; coherent energy exchange between mismatched quantum systems; coherent x-rays in the Karabut experiment and interpretation; excess power in the NiH system; Piantelli experiment; prospects for a new small scale clean nuclear energy technology. On 1/30 and 1/31 M. Swartz will discuss results he has obtained from a variety of cold fusion experiments he has done over the years. He has observed excess power in PdD and in NiH experiments; typical energy gains in the range of 2-3 are seen, with a few experiments giving higher energy gain; he has carried out a demonstration of his experiment previously at MIT; and energy produced from cold fusion reactions has been used to drive a Stirling engine. Contact: Peter Hagelstein, plh@mit.edu Sponsor: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science