[Ed. note: Scott Chubb of the Naval Research Laboratory was co-chair of the 2003 International Conference on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science. This critique is excerpted from a longer review that will appear in Infinite Energy magazine.]

Meshuga, Yiddish for crazy, is the word that most physicists would use to describe Low Energy Nuclear Reactions. In fact, during the National Science Foundation-Electric Power Research Institute workshop in October 1989, Edward Teller suggested that LENR (at that time called cold fusion reactions) could only be explained using a new particle, the meshuganon, or crazy particle. Teller envisioned a large—that is, heavy—neutral particle that somehow could create room-temperature nuclear reactions. Although more-credible theories for explaining LENR exist, this "Meshuganon" idea has not disappeared. Its latest reincarnation is embodied in the theory proposed by Widom and Larsen [1-4].

These theorists suggest that the most important deuteron (d) + d reactions in palladium (Pd) deuteride (PdD) occur through a bizarre series of transitions, involving a form of weak interaction (in which neutrons are created), resulting from large electric fields at the surfaces of Pd electrodes.

There are two problems here, however. It is difficult to believe that the kinds of electric fields that are required could exist, and the energy released by the reaction, as documented by McKubre (SRI International) and others, which simply is entirely consistent with d+d -> 4He, is not at all consistent with their model.

Considerably simpler models, based on conventional physics, in principle, can explain this reaction. In particular, McKubre[5] has shown in a rather compelling way that the associated reactions release the energy, 23.8 MeV, which is appropriate in conventional d+d -> helium-4 reactions and is simply wrong if the “Meshuga” theory, suggested by Widom and Larsen, is correct. The fact that Widom and Larsen have not recognized this fact possibly reflects their ignorance of the existing literature and lack of involvement with International Conference on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science series, in particular. Possibly, they are ignoring this fact, based on their own biases. Regardless, it is important and essential to call into question the soundness of their arguments, as they relate to PdD.

On the other hand, their idea of a Meshuga theory fits quite well with the “craziness” of some of the other effects that have been observed in LENR, and, in fact, believing that the Widom-Larsen theory might apply to some of these reactions is not entirely crazy. The WL theory includes effects, involving relativistic quantum mechanics, that are quite appealing, especially to high-energy physicists.

On the other hand, WL have failed, abysmally, to cite earlier work related to similar “theories.” For this failure, at best their presentation of their “theory” can be viewed as being misguided. At worst, what they have done should be viewed as being unethical. I hope that, in the future, they will refer appropriately to earlier work by others in the field.

A key point is that WL do present reaction rate expressions that appear to be related to experimental results. This is important because it provides a useful framework for analyzing the associated effects. Schwinger, Preparata, Li, Chubb and Chubb, Hagelstein, and Kim have done this. No “theory” can be taken seriously that does not provide an explanation of experimental information that is based on appropriate reaction rate expressions.

A nice aspect of the WL model is that not only does it make use of existing physics and an appropriate formulation of it, but it also creatively brings together “Meshuga” ideas that are widely believed to be irrelevant, in a cogent, albeit hard-to-believe way that all at once must be viewed as being creative, sincere, possibly right in certain circumstances but, beyond anything else, breathtaking and Meshuga.

[1] A. Widom and L. Larsen, “Ultra low momentum neutron catalyzed nuclear reactions on metallic hydride surfaces,” Euro Phys Journ C, 46, 107-111 (2006).
[2] A. Widom and L. Larsen, “Absorption of Nuclear Gamma Radiation by Heavy Electrons on Metallic Hydride Surfaces,” submitted for publication (2006).
[3] A. Widom and L. Larsen, "Nuclear Abundances in Metallic Hydride Electrodes of Electrolytic Chemical Cells."
[4] A. Widom and L. Larsen, “Theoretical Standard Model Rates of Proton to Neutron Conversions Near Metallic Hydride Surfaces.”
[5] P.L. Hagelstein, M.C.H. McKubre, D.J. Nagel, T.A. Chubb, and R.J. Hekman, “New Physical Effects in Metal Deuterides,” in Condensed Matter Nuclear Science, Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Cold Fusion [ed. J.P. Biberian, World Scientific, New Jersey, 2006], pp 23-59.