Latent heat is associated with a thermodynamic system. See the following discussion from Wikipedi:
“A thermodynamic system is a group of material and/or radiative<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation> contents. Its properties may be described by thermodynamic state variables<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_function> such as temperature<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature>, entropy<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy>, internal energy<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_energy>, and pressure<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure>. The simplest state of a thermodynamic system is a state of thermodynamic equilibrium<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_equilibrium>, as opposed to a non-equilibrium state. A system is defined as quantity of matter or a region in space chosen for study. Everything external to the system is surrounding. Thermodynamic system and surrounding is always separated by the boundary.[1]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_system#cite_note-1> The system can be separated from its surrounding by a wall or without a wall. When the state of its content varies in space, the system can be considered as many systems located next to each other, each being a different thermodynamical system. A thermodynamic system is subject to external interventions called thermodynamic operations<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_operation>; these alter the system's walls or its surroundings; as a result, the system undergoes thermodynamic processes<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_process> according to the principles of thermodynamics<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics>. (This account mainly refers to the simplest kind of thermodynamic system; compositions of simple systems may also be considered.) The thermodynamic state of a thermodynamic system is its internal state as specified by its state variables. In addition to the state variables, a thermodynamic account also requires a special kind of quantity called a state function<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_function>, which is a function of the defining state variables. For example, if the state variables are internal energy, volume and mole amounts, that special function is the entropy. These quantities are inter-related by one or more functional relationships called equations of state<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equation_of_state>, and by the system's characteristic equation. Thermodynamics imposes restrictions on the possible equations of state and on the characteristic equation. The restrictions are imposed by the laws of thermodynamics<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics>. According to the permeabilities of the walls of a system, transfers of energy and matter occur between it and its surroundings, which are assumed to be unchanging over time, until a state of thermodynamic equilibrium is attained. The only states considered in equilibrium thermodynamics are equilibrium states. Classical thermodynamics includes equilibrium thermodynamics. It also considers: (a) systems considered in terms of cyclic sequences of processes rather than of states of the system; such were historically important in the conceptual development of the subject; and (b) systems considered in terms of processes described by steady flows; such are important in engineering. “ This begs the question: Do nuclei with internal energies constitute part of a larger thermodynamic system? I consider the answer is yes. since they are linked by EM forces and in particular magnetic fields. Bob Cook From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2019 7:14 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Cc: Jones Beene<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: SPIN-LATTICE COUPLING Recalescence is an increase in temperature<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature> that occurs while cooling metal<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal> when a change in structure with an increase in entropy<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy> occurs. The heat<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat> responsible for the change in temperature is due to the change in entropy. When a structure transformation occurs the Gibbs free energy<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbs_free_energy> of both structures are more or less the same. Therefore the process will be exothermic<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exothermic>. The heat provided is the latent heat<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latent_heat>. This concept described in Wikipedia seems like LENR to me. It involves the 2nd law regarding an increase of entropy in a coupled system as a result of as a result of a decrease of potential energy and an increase of kinetic energy. If the Sandia incident occurred during cooling while magnetization was ongoing, this alone would deserved a paper IMHO. However, Gibbs did not consider free energy associated with nuclear structures as being important in his theory. Note the BS associated with a constant Gibbs free energy (more or less the same) in 2 different phases associated with Recalescence . Bob Cook
