Fred, > Is it possible that at BEC temperatures the nucleons of an atom exhibit a large neutrino absorption cross-section?
You are suggesting that the BEC temperature of some isotopic nucleons might differ and be much higher - and/or be semi-independent of the whole atom, right? ... and therefore since the rest mass energy of the neutrino, whatever it might be (a few tenths of an eV perhaps) has an associated wavelength in the terahertz spectrum, then.... should those Condensed nucleons, which have become resonant at that precise wavelength, come in contact with the very large neutrino flux, the stage is set. That is, some of that flux is thermalized at the temperature of the cell itself, so that the Pd cathode which is a nuclear-BEC becomes resonant with the thermalized neutrino flux, despite the kinetic "temperature" of the electrons being much higher. I hope that I am not putting words in your mouth? Consequently, in a nucleus like Pd-106 or 108 (the most abundant isotopes) a mechanism for "Cold Fusion" effects might be dependent on a nucleonic BEC forming at relatively high temperature, several hundred degree C, but only under the high "effective pressure" of a fully loaded matrix. Both Pd and palladium hydrides are superconductive at low temperature. Laufer's "Theory of superconductivity in palladium-noble-metal hydrides" actually preceded P&F by three years. Also it should be noted that *high internal effective pressure* has the same entropy reducing properties as cold temperature. With Pd the loading ratio must get to near 1:1 before this becomes a factor, such that internal pressure substitutes for low temperature. Even at high temperature, this full loading will give entropy properties similar to a few degree K of effective low temperature, for the nucleus especially. When this parameter is reached, then the Pd nucleus can absorb extra mass from the very high neutrino flux at a much higher cross section than normal. This might have the secondary effect of extending the radius for the nuclear strong force, or many other strange phenomena (excess heat) associated with some forms of CF, especially those where less Helium is seen. Ways to test this: Compare two LENR cells, one of which has a lesser concentration of Pd-105 in the cathode composition, which is the isotope which could strongly interfere with BEC formation. This would be very expensive, probably, unless some of this kind of material can be "borrowed" from a national lab. or Place one active CF cell in the direct geometric line with the MINOS neutrino beam being sent from Fermi Lab to a site in Minnesota, and then compare that with the same type cell placed elsewhere. It recommended that, given the weather, that the experimenter wait till spring, unless he likes ice fishing. http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=2678 Which isn't a bad idea, since many "Grumpy Old Men" (ala Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon) may be involved in fishing as a recreational pastime, while they await results from the ongoing experiment. Hey, the first Grumpy-Old-Man to score with the neutrino-enhanced work, might get the bonus prize of scoring with Ann-Margaret (assuming he is still interested in that kind of score, and Matthau doesn't destroy his fishing hut out of spite). Jones
