On Dec 5, 2011, at 10:14 AM, David Roberson wrote:
It is apparent that a lot of energy is required to initiate the
nuclear reaction in ECAT type devices. This problem is always a
sticking point for the skeptical point of view and certainly makes
the process seem less likely to most of us in the other camp. I
proposed the possibility of cosmic rays acting as the trigger for
the reactions since they are known to be very energetic and always
present.
Cosmic rays have been suggested by many people since 1989 as
potential triggers of LENR, for various reasons. I suggested this
myself in these 1995 and 1996 articles:
http://mtaonline.net/~hheffner/PartOrb.pdf
http://mtaonline.net/~hheffner/BoseHyp.pdf
The showers of particles from cosmic rays have a good potential to
trigger hot fusion reactions, especially muons. Directly initiated
high energy fusions are conventional fusions, with conventional
branching ratios. To amplify this via cold fusion reactions, ones
with low tritium and neutron production, a local lattice volume on
the verge of producing LENR has to be in place, and, the low energy
reactions are likely triggered by the much lower energy secondary
stimuli generated by cosmic ray shower particle impact, such as x-
rays, electron flux, or even phonons. This kind of catalysis
certainly is feasible I think.
That said, it is important to keep in mind that neutron studies of
LENR have been conducted deep underground, where cosmic ray
background is extremely low. Cosmic rays may stimulate some
reactions, i.e. possibly sufficient in some cases, but are not
necessary to cold fusion.
Stimulant particles to drive LENR can be provided at orders of
magnitude higher fluxes by including radioactive dopants in the
matrix, dopants like 137Cs (beta), or 241Am (alpha). Particle and/or
x-ray stimulation has thus far not produced robust cells with output
on the order of Rossi's supposed output. More is required.
Best regards,
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
