Limits on the emission of neutrons, γ-rays, electrons and protons from Pons/Fleischmann electrolytic cells

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 344; no. 6265; pp. 401 - 405
• Main Authors: Salamon, M. H, Wrenn, M. E, Bergeson, H. E, Crawford, H. C, Delaney, W. H, Henderson, C. L, Li, Y. Q, Rusho, J. A, Sandquist, G. M, Seltzer, S. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 29.03.1990
• Subjects: Californium isotopes; Cold; Efficiency; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Emissions; Emissions control; Energy; Excitation; Foils; Hydrogen; Isotopes; Kinetic energy; Laboratories; Lexan (trademark); Monte Carlo simulation; Neutron flux; Neutrons; Palladium; Particulate emissions; Pons; Proton flux; Protons; Reaction products; Sensors; Tracks (paths); Tritium; Water tanks; New York; United States > US
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/344401a0

Neutron flux limits: d(d, Neutrons from the d(d, n)3He fusion channel have an initial kinetic energy of 2.45 MeV and a mean free path in water of 4.9 cm, which decreases to -0.4 cm as the neutron thermalizes. Because each cell is surrounded by several inches of water, most neutrons emitted would thermalize in the surrounding water bath and generate a 2.22-MeV 7-ray from the n(p, d)y reaction; Monte Carlo calculations show for a point source of 2.45-MeV neutrons located at cell 2-1 that 62% of the emitted neutrons would be captured by hydrogen in the water bath. Proton flux limits: d(d, p)t. The fusion channel d(d, p)t (Q = 4.03 MeV) has been a leading candidate for the cold-fusion process, both because of reports of excess tritium production5 and because its reaction products come to rest within the palladium electrode (the range of a 3-MeV proton in palladium is ~30 pm; ref. 8), thereby presumably avoiding the paradox of watts of fusion power being generated without observed particle emissions. [...]a strong and distinct 7-ray signature exists for this reaction: the 3.02-MeV protons cause Coulomb excitation of the even-even isotopes of Pd, whose radiative de-excitations, between 0.37 and 0.56 MeV, are detectable by the Nal detector with efficiencies p given in Table 1. (The track registration threshold of Lexan is such that the numerous a particles produced by the 238U component of the U foils do not produce visible tracks.) The absolute neutron detection efficiency was measured with a 252Cf source in a large water tank, with foil sandwiches placed relative to the source identically to those in Pons' laboratory, and was found to be 1.3 x 10"5 fission tracks per emitted neutron for a foil with no Cd cover; for those foils with Cd covers, the efficiency was a factor of about three lower.