On Dec 9, 2008, at 3:31 PM, Jed Rothwell wrote:
Edmund Storms wrote:
Apparently all spontaneous nuclear reactions are exothermic. This
is required because a nuclear process cannot obtain the required
large amount of energy from the local environment fast enough.
Well, my understanding is extremely limited, but I gather that
nuclear processes occur so quickly and they are so energetic that
according to conventional theory there is no way to transfer energy
to a lattice, so cold fusion is ruled out. Yet cold fusion does
occur, and it appears to be nuclear, with energy transferred as
heat. So perhaps by one of these mechanisms such as Chubbs' the
energy can "slow down" enough to break apart elements lighter than
iron, which takes more energy than it produces.
The process of moving the energy from the site of the nuclear reaction
is normally done by easily detected radiation. In the case of cold
fusion, this radiation signature is different from the expected
radiation and not easy to detect because most does not leave the
apparatus. However, as people look more closely using the right
detectors, the expected radiation is seen. The transmutation
reactions all are exothermic and do not result in the nucleus being
broken down. Transmutation results from d or p entering the nucleus,
which generates energy.
This would produce other anomalous elements in the cell. I do not
know whether they have been found, or even looked for.
By the way, Mizuno confirmed that my English summary of his
comments, posted here yesterday, is accurate. He confirms that he
was referring to transient events during mass spectroscopy. As I
said, he thinks there is no way to break down an organic molecule to
get CH. I wouldn't know about it, but I did confirm that is what he
meant.
The CH exists only as a positive ion, which is clearly seen in a MS
spectrum.
I asked Mizuno for more information about the mass spectroscopy,
including who did it and what that person thinks. In plain English,
I asked him whether the fellow who operates the mass spec gadget
agrees you can't make CH in his gadget by whacking creosote. (Plain
Japanese, actually.)
In contrast, a chemical reaction is much slower and is satisfied
with energy that
can be stolen from a few surrounding atoms.
My point is that something appears to be slowing down nuclear
reactions in metal lattices. Or spreading them out over a large
area, the Chubbs would say.
I don't think the Chubbs claim that the duration of the reaction is
slowed, only that it dumps its energy as small packets into the
lattice. The reaction has already occurred and is only trying to get
rid of the extra energy. In addition, not every one agrees with this
mechanism. As the existence of radiation is confirmed, this mechanism
looks less likely.
Of course the heat is also breaking chemical bonds -- cooking the
creosote -- which does reduce the heat release slightly, but not
enough to explain the apparent excess of nuclear products.
The speed of the nuclear process is well known and is very much faster
than chemical or physical processes. Consequently, energy from
chemical sources simply can't keep up with the process.
The experiment does cook the creosote, which may be one of the
reasons the university wants to throw Mizuno out this month rather
than April. When he and I were in the New York subway not long ago,
we went up a stairway past an area where the weather comes in from
the street, which was heavily coated in creosote. He said, "this
place smells like my lab after a run."
(Naturally, this does not prove it is anomalous heat: the electric
heater supplies more than enough heat to volatilize the stuff.)
Too true.
Ed
- Jed
