From: Bob Higgins
* I am not convinced at all that Holmlid's strings of "UDD" exist. The
existence of the low density hexagonal Rydberg "snowflakes" of hydrogen is a
fairly well established fact. I cannot see how any of this is a path to large
scale fusion even if it exists.
As I understand Holmlid’s argument - iron oxide is the matrix which makes it
all happen. Iron oxide is naturally structured as nanoporous, with holes of one
nanometer diameter which are located in the center of hexagons of iron-oxide,
and which align as deep narrow wells. Presumably, the strings of UDD would be
positioned inside these deep holes like drilling strings, providing an extended
lifetime but requiring that the matrix must also be included as part of the
fuel.
Although it would appear at first glance that this structure is mostly iron
oxide, the spacing of the stacked layers in the strings is so close (2.3 pm),
that there would be many more actual atoms of UDD compared to the matrix.
Until there is independent replication, I agree with Bob that this is not
convincing on its own. Yet, it should be relatively easy to show some previous
anomaly in hydrogen loaded iron-oxide due to the industrial importance.
In fact, using hydrogen to reduce hematite was once considered as a way to make
pure steel from iron ore with no coal. Sooner or later I will get around to
digging up old papers looking for reported thermal anomalies.
