In reply to Axil Axil's message of Fri, 19 Dec 2014 15:28:48 -0500: Hi, [snip] >Ed stated that LeClair's results were not the result of cold fusion. But by >any reaction outside of a supernova, transuranic elements cannot be formed >under any circumstances. According to current theory, normal stellar fusion >ash production stops with iron and can go no higher in terms of atomic weight. >A valid cold fusion theory must explain the formation by transmutation of >super heavy elements.
Note that the reason that fusion is stars stops with iron is because it is based upon fusion of elements *with themselves*. E.g. one can fuse silicon with silicon, but not iron with iron. However Hydrogen if present will essentially fuse with anything, because the excess mass of a free proton is about 5-10 MeV compared to that of a proton in any nucleus. In short, the rules which apply to reactions in the cores of old stars (where the Hydrogen in the core has long been used up) do not necessarily apply to experiments carried out here on Earth. I think, if you write out a reaction using Al and H to produce a heavy nucleus, and calculate the excess energy, you will find that there are at least some combinations where it is positive, however you will need to convert some protons into neutrons (enhanced electron capture?). Regards, Robin van Spaandonk http://rvanspaa.freehostia.com/project.html
