Posted on 06/02/2021 1:27:37 AM PDT by Kevmo
Lattice Confinement Fusion
NASA Detects Lattice Confinement Fusion A team of NASA researchers seeking a new energy source for deep-space exploration missions, recently revealed a method for triggering nuclear fusion in the space between the atoms of a metal solid. Their research was published in two peer-reviewed papers in the top journal in the field, Physical Review C, Volume 101 (April, 2020): “Nuclear fusion reactions in deuterated metals” and “Novel nuclear reactions observed in bremsstrahlung-irradiated deuterated metals.” Nuclear fusion is a process that produces energy when two nuclei join to form a heavier nucleus. “Scientists are interested in fusion, because it could generate enormous amounts of energy without creating long-lasting radioactive byproducts,” said Theresa Benyo, Ph.D., of NASA’s Glenn Research Center. “However, conventional fusion reactions are difficult to achieve and sustain because they rely on temperatures so extreme to overcome the strong electrostatic repulsion between positively charged nuclei that the process has been impractical.” Called Lattice Confinement Fusion, the method NASA revealed accomplishes fusion reactions with the fuel (deuterium, a widely available non-radioactive hydrogen isotope composed of a proton, neutron, and electron, and denoted “D”) confined in the space between the atoms of a metal solid. In previous fusion research such as inertial confinement fusion, fuel (such as deuterium/tritium) is compressed to extremely high levels but for only a short, nano-second period of time, when fusion can occur. In magnetic confinement fusion, the fuel is heated in a plasma to temperatures much higher than those at the center of the Sun. In the new method, conditions sufficient for fusion are created in the confines of the metal lattice that is held at ambient temperature. While the metal lattice, loaded with deuterium fuel, may initially appear to be at room temperature, the new method creates an energetic environment inside the lattice where individual atoms achieve equivalent fusion-level kinetic energies.
Photograph of the deuterated metals exposed to the bremsstrahlung radiation during the test. During exposure, the deuterated erbium (ErD3) showed evidence of fusion reactions. A metal such as erbium is “deuterated” or loaded with deuterium atoms, “deuterons,” packing the fuel a billion times denser than in magnetic confinement (tokamak) fusion reactors. In the new method, a neutron source “heats” or accelerates deuterons sufficiently such that when colliding with a neighboring deuteron it causes D-D fusion reactions. In the current experiments, the neutrons were created through photodissociation of deuterons via exposure to 2.9+MeV gamma (energetic X-ray) beam. Upon irradiation, some of the fuel deuterons dissociate resulting in both the needed energetic neutrons and protons. In addition to measuring fusion reaction neutrons, the Glenn Team also observed the production of even more energetic neutrons which is evidence of boosted fusion reactions or screened Oppenheimer-Phillips (O-P) nuclear stripping reactions with the metal lattice atoms. Either reaction opens a path to process scaling.
Illustration of the main elements of the lattice confinement fusion process observed. In Part (A), a lattice of erbium is loaded with deuterium atoms (i.e., erbium deuteride), which exist here as deuterons. Upon irradiation with a photon beam, a deuteron dissociates, and the neutron and proton are ejected. The ejected neutron collides with another deuteron, accelerating it as an energetic “d*” as seen in (B) and (D). The “d*” induces either screened fusion (C) or screened Oppenheimer-Phillips (O-P) stripping reactions (E). In (C), the energetic “d*” collides with a static deuteron “d” in the lattice, and they fuse together. This fusion reaction releases either a neutron and helium-3 (shown) or a proton and tritium. These fusion products may also react in subsequent nuclear reactions, releasing more energy. In (E), a proton is stripped from an energetic “d*” and is captured by an erbium (Er) atom, which is then converted to a different element, thulium (Tm). If the neutron instead is captured by Er, a new isotope of Er is formed (not shown).
A novel feature of the new process is the critical role played by metal lattice electrons whose negative charges help “screen” the positively charged deuterons. Such screening allows adjacent fuel nuclei to approach one another more closely, reducing the chance they simply scatter off one another, and increasing the likelihood that they tunnel through the electrostatic barrier promoting fusion. This is according to the theory developed by the project’s theoretical physicist, Vladimir Pines, Ph.D, of PineSci. “The current findings open a new path for initiating fusion reactions for further study within the scientific community. However, the reaction rates need to be increased substantially to achieve appreciable power levels, which may be possible utilizing various reaction multiplication methods under consideration,” said Glenn’s Bruce Steinetz, Ph.D., the NASA project principal investigator. “The key to this discovery has been the talented, multi-disciplinary team that NASA Glenn assembled to investigate temperature anomalies and material transmutations that had been observed with highly deuterated metals,” said Leonard Dudzinski, Chief Technologist for Planetary Science, who supported the research. “We will need that approach to solve significant engineering challenges before a practical application can be designed.” With more study and development, future applications could include power systems for long-duration space exploration missions or in-space propulsion. It also could be used on Earth for electrical power or creating medical isotopes for nuclear medicine. Publications
NASA Detects Lattice Confinement Fusion
Novel Nuclear Reactions Observed in Bremsstrahlung-Irradiated Deuterated Metals
Nuclear Fusion Reactions in Deuterated Metals
Experimental Observations of Nuclear Activity in Deuterated Materials Subjected to a Low-Energy Photon Beam
Gamma Energy Evaluation for Creation of Cd-111(sub m), In-113(sub m), and In-115(sub m) Isotopes
Investigation of Deuterium Loaded Materials Subject to X-Ray Exposure
NASA GRC Hosts Lattice Confinement Fusion Virtual Workshop
Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) Overview
Fast Neutron Spectroscopy with Organic Scintillation Detectors in a High Radiation Field Images
Fusion reaction results from one of the tests performed. (a) Neutron spectra observed during the gamma exposure of deuterated erbium (ErD3) showing evidence of fusion energy neutrons (~2.5 MeV). The plot also shows the presence of higher energy 4-5 MeV neutrons that indicates other nuclear processes occurred. These are believed to be screened Oppenheimer-Phillips reactions that may point a way toward increasing reaction rates, important to future applications. (b) Data from the current NASA work is consistent with fusion energy neutrons observed in an ENEA-Fusion tokamak magnetic confinement fusion reactor, shown in the lower figure. Videos
The GRC Team’s LCF Journey
Nuclear Fusion Reactions in Deuterated Metals
https://youtu.be/ug7B7Gsm-2Y
Note that they use carbon nanotubes as the basis for those silicon 0.2 micron [not really nano-] tubes. Carbon is about 20x smaller than silicon — Far more likely to have individualized linear sets of atoms traveling in the smaller tube.
And once a fusion reaction happens, nothing is strong enough to hold it in place.
The silicon could act as a reinforcement to the carbon tubes, like a tube within a tube.
But maybe with this new material, called hexagonal boron nitride, it could even be stronger still................
Yeah, but then you would probably lose your generated neutrons by reaction with the boron nucleus.
Holmlid would explain the heat given off as the energy released by condensation of a hydrogen (isotope) during compression ( in this case by entry into a metallic lattice.)
His computations for formation of ultra dense hydrogen yield about 650 electro-volts per nucleon. This is far beyond the 4.5 eV binding energy for chemical dissociation involving hydrogen.
Edmund Storms of Los Alamos liked nano-cracks as active sites.
“Fleishman and Ponds were right.”
ROTFLMAO!
Not ‘cold fusion’. Keep your propaganda on your own threads.
Yes it IS cold fusion and you are unwelcome on these threads.
Open your own thread when ya wanna act like a seagull.
Wonder if they tried Uranium Deuteride, isn’t that UD3 (heheh)? A notable issue with using UD3 in initiators is the neutrons are moderated by the D and thus the nuclear reaction fizzles, but in this case something less than a fizzle is perfectly alright. If the UD3 is surface coated (a few atoms thick perhaps) onto a negatively charged conductor (heheh gold) then it could be bombarded with D+ ions from a Neutristor-like accelerator of some kind. Gold is interesting as a substrate because it will let out a little gamma when it captures a neutron or perhaps suffer beta decay. Either of which could stimulate more fun.
Note I am not a real nuclear physicist, just a lay person reading wikipedia and those interesting papers cited in the article.
“Yes it IS cold fusion and you are unwelcome on these threads.”
This is a non-cold fusion science thread. Keep your ignorance on your pseudo-science threads.
I opened this thread as a standard cold fusion science thread, pinged the regulars,, and disruptor trolls like you are unwelcome to such threads per Jimrob’s posted rules.
Post your own thread and whine over there, as has been done in the past.
Get lost.
I think the cracks are where Helium escapes the lattice and boats out the cracks even further.
Also, with so few fusion reactions [I think in this case the authors detected less than a hundred], they are realizing that gamma rays are released orthogonal to the collisions of the atoms and have a high probability of hitting or interacting with the host lattice atoms.
“I opened this thread as a standard cold fusion science thread”
Please explain how it is cold fusion when the interacting particles are at hot fusion energies ...
What cold fusion device is activated by high energy x-rays?
So the paragraphs fused together in your first try?
I think the cracks are where Helium escapes the lattice and boats out the cracks even further.
Also, with so few fusion reactions [I think in this case the authors detected less than a hundred], they are realizing that gamma rays are released orthogonal to the collisions of the atoms and have a high probability of hitting or interacting with the host lattice atoms.
Please leave this thread. Per Jimrob’s stated rules.
I’m happy to answer legit questions on your own trolling thread.
If your purpose is Snide Remarks and trolling, you’re unwelcome on these cold fusion threads.
“
I’m happy to answer legit questions”
Please explain how it is cold fusion when the interacting particles are at hot fusion energies ...
What cold fusion device is activated by high energy x-rays?
Please leave this thread. Open your own.
Your purpose is to throw shade so open your own shade thread and kindly get lost.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.