Interview of K.P. Sinha by Steven B. Krivit, August 25, 2003,
Cambridge, Mass. (mp3)
(Transcript has minor edits for clarity)
Dr. Sinha, what is your academic background?
I have two Ph.D's, one from the University of Puna in India, with an Englishman, George Finch of the Royal Society. Then I wanted to do theory, so I studied at the University of Bristol because it was the best place for solid-state physics. So I took another Ph.D with another Englishman, Maurice
Pryce, who was a student of Dirac and studied under Max Born. After that I continued working in various branches of solid-state physics.
What are you currently working on at MIT?
I work in all aspects of solid-state physics, phase-transition structure, semiconductors, superconductors, magnetism, all aspects of solid-state physics. Then also I work in cosmology and gravitation.
Has your work been all in the academic world?
Yes.
And has your work been primarily in theory?
Yes, mostly my work is in theoretical science. I'm an academician of the Indian National Science Academy. In fact I am a fellow of all three academies of India, National Academy of Science, India Academy of Science, and India National Science Academy.
What have you been studying relative to cold fusion?
The central problem in cold fusion is how to bring the deuterons close enough. This involves some subtle aspects of solid state structure and physics. The role of channels and its static and dynamical defects is crucial. Further atomic vibrations mods (phonons) which interact with electrons and nuclei.
Do you work with Peter Hagelstein?
Yes. Phonon-electron interaction can localize the electrons. In fact you can have two electrons existing in the same orbital state because of the strong electron-phonon interaction. The effective mass of the electron becomes very large. This can lead to negatively charged D(-)ions to which deuterons D(+) can be attracted. This helps in the formation of pairs of D(+)D(-) which can help in fusing the two nuclei.
What are your current objectives with cold fusion?
You see, I have done a lot of physics, published 250 papers, 5 books. But now I want to do useful research which is good for mankind, that is, energy production and energy transmission, things like that. So, one area of my work has been in superconductivity, photo-induced superconductivity, which I predicted in 1968, and it had been observed in some of the high temperature compounds.
Why do you think cold fusion has hope for mankind?
Because anything which can give abundant energy, so each house can have its source of energy, and self-sufficient, so that's what is the device which can work for a single house so each house can be self-sufficient. It doesn't have to depend on transmission of energy or things like that. So I'm working on not only cold fusion but other aspects of energy transfer, energy production.
What are your hopes and expectations?
I feel that within 5 to 10 years the problem will be solved
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