The “Cold Fusion" Effect: A Technical Explanation 

An excerpt from The Rebirth of Cold Fusion  
Copyright 2004 S.B. Krivit 

The following explanation repeats some portions of earlier text in this book. This explanation, however, goes into greater technical depth and includes all the pertinent aspects. As with the diagram above, this explanation should be considered a work-in-progress and will evolve over time:

In a nuclear fusion process, two atomic nuclei usually combine to make a new larger nucleus and often a lighter particle (such as a proton or neutron) and energy. 

In accordance with Einstein’s equation, E=mc², the energy arises from a loss of mass. In fusion, the mass of the new nucleus together with the lighter particle (if present) is slightly less than the mass of the two initial nuclei.

Two nuclei strongly repel each other, and they must be forced together somehow before fusion will occur. In conventional thermonuclear, or hot fusion, as in the sun, extremely high temperature (10 million degrees) supplies the necessary force.

Many methods of deuterium-deuterium cold fusion experiments exist, in both liquid and gas forms. The basic cold fusion experiment is performed in a relatively simple electrolysis apparatus at or near room temperature. Scientists immerse two pieces of metal, a palladium cathode (negatively charged) and a platinum anode (positively charged), in a beaker containing a conductive solution of D₂O (heavy water), containing LiOD (lithium deuteroxide). An electrical current is passed through the solution between the two metal conductors. Deuterium is released from the heavy water at the cathode, where it either tries to escape as a gas or enters the crystalline atomic structure of the palladium (lattice). This method allows a very high concentration of deuterium to be achieved in the palladium without having to apply very high gas pressure.

If precise parameters and requirements are met, the reaction generates excess heat and ordinary helium. Excess heat means that more energy exits the experiment than entered it. 

Conventional nuclear fusion of deuterium makes light helium (helium-3), tritium, protons and neutrons. Ordinary helium (helium-4) also is produced in conventional nuclear fusion, but only on rare occasions. When helium-4 is produced in hot fusion, not only is energy released in a way that is consistent with the change in mass (associated with Einstein's E=mc² equation), but the reaction also is known to cause subtle effects involving the behavior of the deuterium nuclei, far away from the location where the ordinary helium is produced. Briefly and simply stated, these effects are observed as gamma radiation and are deadly to humans. 

How two deuterium nuclei can approach close enough to fuse at room temperature is not clear, even in palladium. However, the amounts of excess heat in cold fusion are consistent with the change in energy that results when heavy hydrogen is converted into helium-4. Most scientists who have been studying the subject believe that this particular effect is related to subtle differences between the fusion processes, associated with the helium-4 reaction. No high-energy gamma radiation is seen in cold fusion.

Unfortunately, because it was initially assumed that cold fusion is a "colder" form of conventional nuclear fusion, most scientists assumed that light helium or tritium had to be produced. For this reason, they ignored the possibility that ordinary helium might be involved and concluded that the excess-heat cold fusion phenomenon either did not involve nuclear fusion or, alternatively, could be the result of some other, as-yet-unknown nuclear process.

With time, scientists researching cold fusion have learned that the excess-heat effect is only one of many nuclear phenomena that can take place when deuterium atoms are forced into a solid. For this reason, the term "low energy nuclear reaction" is a more technically accurate descriptor than "cold fusion."   

Because of the confusion that resulted from the assumption that cold fusion is a "colder" version of nuclear fusion, it is apparent not only that the name is inappropriate but also that the use of this name has adversely affected the field. 

For better or for worse, the name has remained, and the term "cold fusion effect," which also has been used, serves as a shortcut for the unexplained reaction observed in these experiments.

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