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Triple tracks in CR-39 as the result of Pd–D Co-deposition: evidence of energetic neutrons

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Abstract

Since the announcement by Fleischmann and Pons that the excess enthalpy generated in the negatively polarized Pd–D-D2O system was attributable to nuclear reactions occurring inside the Pd lattice, there have been reports of other manifestations of nuclear activities in this system. In particular, there have been reports of tritium and helium-4 production; emission of energetic particles, gamma or X-rays, and neutrons; as well as the transmutation of elements. In this communication, the results of Pd–D co-deposition experiments conducted with the cathode in close contact with CR-39, a solid-state nuclear etch detector, are reported. Among the solitary tracks due to individual energetic particles, triple tracks are observed. Microscopic examination of the bottom of the triple track pit shows that the three lobes of the track are splitting apart from a center point. The presence of three α-particle tracks outgoing from a single point is diagnostic of the 12C(n,n′)3α carbon breakup reaction and suggests that DT reactions that produce ≥9.6 MeV neutrons are occurring inside the Pd lattice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the production of energetic (≥9.6 MeV) neutrons in the Pd–D system.

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Acknowledgement

This work was funded by the SSC-Pacific ILIR program and JWK Corporation. The authors would like to thank Dr. Gary Phillips, nuclear physicist, retired Naval Research Laboratory, US Navy, Radiation Effects Branch, and Dr. Roger Boss of SSC-Pacific for valuable discussions in interpreting the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, Code 7173, San Diego, CA, 92152, USA

    Pamela A. Mosier-Boss, Stanislaw Szpak & Frank E. Gordon

  2. JWK International Corp., Annandale, VA, 22003, USA

    Lawrence P. G. Forsley

Authors
  1. Pamela A. Mosier-Boss
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  2. Stanislaw Szpak
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  3. Frank E. Gordon
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  4. Lawrence P. G. Forsley
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Correspondence to Pamela A. Mosier-Boss.

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Mosier-Boss, P.A., Szpak, S., Gordon, F.E. et al. Triple tracks in CR-39 as the result of Pd–D Co-deposition: evidence of energetic neutrons. Naturwissenschaften 96, 135–142 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-008-0449-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-008-0449-x

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