Hi Fran, Reduced, or completely masked? Don't know yet.
It's still 'in press' so I doubt PRL will have an abstract yet. What's interesting is this: "The new negative potential causes an attractive force between the ions [of the plasma], which then form lattices. They are compressed and the distances between them shortened, so that current can flow through them much faster." So the (degenerate electron) quantum plasma forms *its own lattice*!? A nano/micro-scale lattice of plasma. now that ought to have some interesting properties being that the ions are much free-er (is that a word?) that in condensed matter. If this plasma lattice encompasses the first several layers of atoms in the condensed matter (Ni, Pd, etc), could the compression of the plasma lattice physically force protons to cross the Coulomb barrier? Could this be the nuclear active areas that LENR researchers have discussed? A quantum plasma lattice juxtaposed or co-physical with a condensed matter (metal) lattice. Obviously, it would take specific conditions to bring this about, and on a small volume, and probably short lived with the disruptive randomness of quantums of heat energy being shuffled about inside the metal lattice. This quantum lattice could certainly be the 'collective oscillations' that McKubre and others have hypothesized. same phenomenon, different name. Or does the plasma 'lattice' imply additional properties not considered by LENR researchers? The other interesting clue which could be relevant to LENR is this: "Such plasmas .. can be produced artificially in the laboratory by means of laser irradiation." Remember that some LENR work (SPAWAR?) has looked at laser stimulation, and it seemed to have a positive effect. I think the problem with the lack of good theoretical basis for LENR comes from the fact that we really are discovering an entirely new field of physics, and there are numerous interactions that can occur. which just serves to confuse things. too many effects to coordinate into a qualitative model that can then be quantitatively explored and modeled. Truly exciting times! This will probably dwarf the importance of the transition in understanding when going from the Bohr model of the atom to quantum mechanics nearly 100 years ago. -Mark From: Roarty, Francis X [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:19 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: EXTERNAL: [Vo]:New physical attraction between ions in quantum plasmas Mark, Is this proof of a reduced coulomb barrier? Fran From: MarkI-ZeroPoint [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 1:08 PM To: [email protected] Subject: EXTERNAL: [Vo]:New physical attraction between ions in quantum plasmas Hot off the press! Not sure is this is relevant to LENR, but think it could be. When ions get closer: New physical attraction between ions in quantum plasmas Quantum plasmas extend the area of application to nano-scales, where quantum-mechanical effects gain significance. This is the case when, in comparison to normal plasmas, the plasma density is very high and the temperature is low. Then the newly discovered potential occurs, which is caused by collective interaction processes of degenerate electrons with the quantum plasma. Such plasmas can be found, for example, in cores of stars with a dwindling nuclear energy supply (white dwarfs <http://www.physorg.com/tags%0d%0a/white+dwarfs/> ), or they can be produced artificially in the laboratory by means of laser irradiation <http://www.physorg.com/tags/laser+irradiation/> . The new negative potential causes an attractive force <http://www.physorg.com/tags/attractive+force/> between the ions, which then form lattices. They are compressed and the distances between them shortened, so that current can flow through them much faster. The findings of the Bochum scientists open up the possibility of ion-crystallization on the magnitude scale of an atom. They have thus established a new direction of research that is capable of linking various disciplines of physics. Applications include micro-chips for quantum computers, semiconductors, thin metal foils or even metallic nano-structures. More information: P. K. Shukla and B. Eliasson (2012): Novel Attractive Force Between Ions in Quantum Plasmas, Physical Review Letters 108, in press. < p class=MsoNormal>Gee, you mean there are still new things to discover? Science still has things to learn? I'm being sarcastic here. This is why when anyone, especially a scientist, states that something isn't possible because it contradicts laws of physics, they are just flat-out wrong. ALL one is justified in ever saying in that situation is that it's very unlikely. if they don't speak in probabilities, then they are probably wed to their theories as much as any person is to their religion. it's ok to 'not know'. -Mark
