Statistical analysis of neutron burst size and rate during electrolysis of LiOD solutions

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Fusion Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5673177

Harb, J N; Pitt, W G; Tolley, H D ^[1]

---

1. Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT (United States)

Experiments are conducted to examine neutron emissions associated with electrolysis of 3 M LiOD in heavy water with a palladium electrode. The data show evidence of an increase in the number of neutrons detected during heavy water electrolysis relative to light water background experiments. No anomalous heat, tritium, or helium is detected. In this paper a rigorous statistical analysis is used to describe the distribution of both the neutron burst size and burst rate, each of which is characterized by a single parameter. The background neuron emission can be characterized by a burst size of 2 and a burst rate of 0.123 s{sup {minus}1}, although some variability is observed. Analysis establishes the statistical significance of increased neutron emission during foreground (heavy water) runs, even when background variability is taken into account. In one case, the neutron emission is characterized by large but infrequent bursts. In the other case, only the burst rate increases to 0.203 s{sup {minus}1}. Although the data are limited, the need for careful statistical analysis and the importance of experimental design are shown.

• OSTI ID: 5673177
• Journal Information: Fusion Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Fusion Technology; (United States) Vol. 18:4; ISSN 0748-1896; ISSN FUSTE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300505 -- Fuel Cells-- Electrochemistry
Mass Transfer & Thermodynamics
663300 -- Nuclear Reactions & Scattering
General-- (1992-)
663510* -- Nuclear Mass Ranges-- A=1-5-- (1992-)
664000 -- Atomic & Molecular Physics-- (1992-)
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
DEUTERIDES
DEUTERIUM COMPOUNDS
DEUTERON REACTIONS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HEAVY WATER
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM DEUTERIDES
LITHIUM HYDRIDES
LYSIS
METALS
NEUTRON EMISSION
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALLADIUM
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PLATINUM METALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER