First, a basic factoid which may be of interest regarding deuterium loading in the LENR active matrix, and the unexpected high density of what is being called pycnodeuterium, following Arata's introduction of the term.
The atomic radius of deuterium is 78 pm (roughly spherical) while the covalent radius is 30 x 45 pm (oblong) - a surprisingly large shrinkage without any below-ground-state shenanigans; and yet the average charge is unchanged - net neutral, but it is spread out over a larger core area so that electrons are pulled-in more. In effect the atomic weight of the 'unit' has doubled and the effective volume decreased by about 10 fold; so already the apparent density is higher. Is this the start of a *trend* and does that trend continue with the appearance of (putative) higher allotropes? When deuterium is loaded in an atomic ratio of 1:1 within a metal, it must be in molecular form, and seldom atomic form, as was once thought (and taught) since the molecule is so much smaller than the atom. Given what has gone on in LENR over the years, this 1:1 ratio is probably a threshold level for fusion to happen. More basic query: Is there a progression of this phenomenon (which can be mistaken for Millsean shrinkage) whereby compound "unnatural" molecules seem to "grow in mass and shrink in volume" when in confinement ? IOW as they grow in mass to 6,8, and 10 amu and beyond - at the same time the unit also shrinks in effective dimension due to this same modality above: which is that the average positive nuclear charge is being spread out over a greater core volume, thus attracting valence electrons at tighter average dimension? Note: the orbitals would thereby appear to be "below ground state" but that is completely deceptive and unconnected to Mills' theory, since there is no stability outside of the matrix confinement. This can be better worded: Could there be a novel mechanism, which can be called "confinement allotropy" and previously not described in the literature, whereby unnaturally large molecules of hydrogen and its isotopes can be bound with moderate stability when within a metal matrix? A basic assumption is that the host matrix can absorb hydrogen without strong binding into the valence 'smear' of the metal atoms, as in a true hydride. That low binding level is a fine distinction, and the range of binding energy required is not apparent. When shuttled back and forth between open interstitial gaps in an "active zone" - the kinetic activity of all bound species takes place as molecules in these metals; and it follows that this cannot be limited to two atom molecules in high loading situations. This outcome of more than two atoms in a confined molecular allotrope is defensible for a number of experimental reasons, primarily because Arata, Kitamura and several other replications have seen stable loading above a 4:1 ratio. BTW this high ratio seems rock solid, since there are numerous published and unpublished reports in the same range. Note: tetrahedrons are a favored natural form - thus the average near four may be no accident. Bottom line, there should be significant amounts of D3 and D4 (and up) in the LENR matrix (those being the first two "confined allotropes" and going to the next semantic distinction: that is what pycno really consists of (i.e. an unusual bound-allotrope, requiring confinement for longer term stability). Next step: These "new" orbitals will need to mesh somehow with classical orbital dynamics (s, p, d, f) presumably, so long as the spectroscopic lines: sharp, principal, diffuse, and fundamental are unchanged but heck, that is the least of the problems faced by this emergent hypothesis. More later, Jones
