Steven Krivit wrote:
. . . it's rather fascinating to see the intensity of the response
to my release of the belief in single-step D+D > 4He as the dominant
underlying explanatory process of LENR. Really emotional, hostile responses.
Nobody believes in single step D+D -> 4He. That would trigger
neutrons and gamma rays. I know barely enough about theory to fill a
postcard, but even I know that!
Here is roughly everything I know about theory:
All experiment I know of that looked for helium-4 found it at roughly
the same ratio as plasma fusion. That indicates that 2 deuterons are
transformed into 1 helium atom. But surely it must be a multi-step
process. I like Chris Tinsley's analogy comparing respiration with
combustion. The starting and ending products are the same but the
intermediate steps are different. When respiration was first
explained, Chris imagined scientists responding: "You are telling us
that there is fire inside the body?!? That's ridiculous!" But in a
sense it is true. At ICCF-15 Storms presented a paper discussing what
I believe is called a multibody reaction, where several deuterons
participate in the reaction. It seems to be the consensus that
something like this is happening, as far as I make out from theory discussions.
The irony is that the weak-interaction idea could actually bring
respect and recognition to the field - and recognition by mainstream
science. Or perhaps all of this noise I'm hearing from you, Rothwell
and Storms is about envy and jealousy as a result of the recognition
of the WL idea.
This is a joke, right?
I have probably written millions of words about cold fusion, but I do
not think you will find a single message or paper from me endorsing
or attacking the WL theory or any other theory. On numerous occasions
I have made it clear that I could not care less about this or any
other theory. I know no more about theory than I know about Contract
Bridge or Italian Opera.
Naturally, I see why theory is important to the researchers, but I am
not a researcher, so it isn't my department. Glassware is important
to them too, but I don't make the stuff and I do not know a thing about it.
I have edited many theory papers, but only to fix spelling errors and
ensure agreement of person and number, and other English grammar.
That, I know about. Speaking of which, Krivit does not have
"disinterest" in the Wikipedia crusade. He has no interest. He is
uninterested in it. A judge should be disinterested but if she is
uninterested she better not show it by falling asleep at the bench.
- Jed
