Neutron measurements in search of cold fusion
We have conducted a research for neutron emission from cold fusion systems of the electrochemical type and, to a lesser extent, the high-pressure gas cell type. Using a high-efficiency well counter and an NE 213 scintillator, the experiments were conducted on the earth's surface and in a shielded cave approximately 50 ft underground. After approximately 6500 h of counting time, we have obtained no evidence for cold fusion processes leading to neutron production. However, we have observed all three types of neutron data that have been presented as evidence for cold fusion: large positive fluctuations in the neutron counting rate, weak peaks near 2.5 MeV in the neutron energy spectrum, and bursts of up to 145 neutrons in 500-{mu}s intervals. The data were obtained under circumstances that clearly show our results to be data encountered as a part of naturally occurring neutron background, which is due primarily to cosmic rays. Thus, observing these types of data does not, of itself, provide evidence for the existence of cold fusion processes. Artifacts in the data that were due to counter misbehavior were also to lead to long-term neutron bursts'' whose time duration varied from several hours to several days. We conclude that any experiments which attempt to observe neutron emission must include strong steps to ensure that the experiments deal adequately with both cosmic-ray processes and counter misbehavior. 13 refs., 14 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6298931
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-90-3964; CONF-9010266-1; ON: DE91004855; TRN: 91-000116
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Conference on anomalous nuclear effects in deuterium/solid systems, Provo, UT (USA), 22-24 Oct 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
NEUTRON DETECTION
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
COSMIC NEUTRONS
ELECTROLYSIS
NEUTRON EMISSION
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
BARYONS
COSMIC RADIATION
DETECTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EMISSION
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LYSIS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
SYNTHESIS
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