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Commercializing a Next-Generation Source of Safe Nuclear Energy

Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENRs)Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENRs)

Weak interaction LENR transmutation reactions on Earth Weak interaction LENR transmutation reactions on Earth versus nucleosynthesis in starsversus nucleosynthesis in stars

Brief SemiBrief Semi--Technical OverviewTechnical Overview

“Energy, broadly defined, has become the most important

geostrategic and geoeconomic challenge of our time.”

Thomas FriedmanNew York Times, April 28, 2006

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Fusion and fission are not predominant in LENR systems

1.1. EE--M radiation on metallic hydride surface M radiation on metallic hydride surface increases mass of surface plasmon electronsincreases mass of surface plasmon electrons

2.2. HeavyHeavy--mass mass surface plasmon polariton surface plasmon polariton electrons ( ) electrons ( ) react directly with surface react directly with surface protonsprotons ((pp++ ) ) oror deuteronsdeuterons ((dd++) ) to produce ultra to produce ultra low momentumlow momentum (ULM) (ULM) neutronsneutrons ((nnulmulm or or 2n2nulmulm, , respectively) and an electron neutrino (respectively) and an electron neutrino (ννee))

3.3. Ultra low momentum neutronsUltra low momentum neutrons (nulm) are are captured by nearby atomic nucleicaptured by nearby atomic nuclei ((Z, AZ, A) ) representing some element with charge (representing some element with charge (ZZ) ) and atomic mass (and atomic mass (AA). ULM neutron absorption ). ULM neutron absorption produces a heavierproduces a heavier--mass isotope mass isotope ((ZZ, , A+1A+1)) via via transmutation. This new isotope transmutation. This new isotope ((ZZ, , A+1A+1)) may may itself be stable or unstable itself be stable or unstable

4.4. Unstable isotopes beta decay, producing: Unstable isotopes beta decay, producing: transmuted new elementtransmuted new element with increased with increased charge charge ((Z+1), Z+1), ~ same mass (~ same mass (A+1A+1) as “parent” ) as “parent” nucleus; nucleus; ββ particle (particle (ee-- ); and antineutrino ( )); and antineutrino ( )

Fundamental conceptsFundamental concepts of condensed matter weak interactions in of condensed matter weak interactions in WidomWidom--Larsen theory of LENRs are Larsen theory of LENRs are illustrated belowillustrated below::

e

ulm

eulm

eulm

eAZAZ

AZAZnnde

npe

ee

ν

ν

ν

++++→+

+→++→+

+→+

→+

−

+−

+−

−−

)1,1()1,(

)1,(),(2~

~

~)(radiation

‘‘Green’ wGreen’ weak interactioneak interaction ββ-- decays (above), decays (above), alpha decays (not shown), and gammaalpha decays (not shown), and gamma--shielded shielded

neutron captures produce most of the energyneutron captures produce most of the energy

No strong interaction fusion or heavy No strong interaction fusion or heavy element fission taking place belowelement fission taking place below

eν

Unstable IsotopeUnstable Isotope

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

4.4. New element New element –– stable stable or or unstableunstable

UnstableUnstable or Stableor Stable

−e~

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Neutron-capture transmutations on earth via LENRs

Miley et al. began with an ordinary Nickel cathode Miley et al. began with an ordinary Nickel cathode -- two weeks later, endedtwo weeks later, ended--up with experimentally up with experimentally observed LENR transmutation product spectrum that looked like itobserved LENR transmutation product spectrum that looked like it had been created in a starhad been created in a star

With no fitting, simple twoWith no fitting, simple two--parameter ‘optical’ model of ULM parameter ‘optical’ model of ULM neutron absorption based on Wneutron absorption based on W--L theory of LENRs predicts L theory of LENRs predicts product isotopic abundance peaks shown in yellow aboveproduct isotopic abundance peaks shown in yellow above

Start Start –– Nickel (Ni) cathode placed in currentNickel (Ni) cathode placed in current--driven electrolytic chemical celldriven electrolytic chemical cell Finish Finish -- Mass spectrum of LENR transmutation products in cathodeMass spectrum of LENR transmutation products in cathode

See: “Nuclear Abundances in Metallic Hydride Electrodes of See: “Nuclear Abundances in Metallic Hydride Electrodes of Electrolytic Chemical Cells” arXiv:condElectrolytic Chemical Cells” arXiv:cond--mat/0602472 (Feb 2006) mat/0602472 (Feb 2006)

Widom and LarsenWidom and Larsen

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Transmutations in nature: element nucleosynthesis in stars

•• Except for Big Bang hydrogen/deuterium and Except for Big Bang hydrogen/deuterium and helium, helium, astrophysicists believe that most astrophysicists believe that most elements in the Universe lighter than Iron (Fe) elements in the Universe lighter than Iron (Fe) were created bywere created by chargedcharged--particle particle fusion fusion reactions inside starsreactions inside stars

•• Elements heavier than Fe thought to be Elements heavier than Fe thought to be created via neutron capture (absorption) created via neutron capture (absorption) nucleosynthesis reactions in stars. Two typesnucleosynthesis reactions in stars. Two typesof such neutron capture processes thought to of such neutron capture processes thought to occur in hot stellar plasmasoccur in hot stellar plasmas::

–– ss--processprocess (slow) occurs in stars, e.g., red (slow) occurs in stars, e.g., red giants; neutron flux 10giants; neutron flux 1055 –– 10101111 cmcm22/sec/sec

–– rr--processprocess (rapid) occurs in supernova (rapid) occurs in supernova explosions; neutron flux > 10explosions; neutron flux > 102222 cmcm22/sec/sec

•• Heavier elements (A > Fe) are formed in Heavier elements (A > Fe) are formed in successive cyclessuccessive cycles of neutron creation, of neutron creation, neutron absorption, neutrino production, beta neutron absorption, neutrino production, beta decays of unstable neutrondecays of unstable neutron--rich isotopes, and rich isotopes, and stable element productionstable element production

•• According to WidomAccording to Widom--Larsen, Larsen, similar to condensed matter similar to condensed matter LENR systems where neutron LENR systems where neutron flux can be 10flux can be 1099 –– 10101616 cmcm22/sec /sec

•• Difference is that neutrons in Difference is that neutrons in LENR systems can be ultra low LENR systems can be ultra low momentum; vastly larger momentum; vastly larger absorption crossabsorption cross--sectionssections

•• Also unlike stars, little gamma Also unlike stars, little gamma photodissociation; sometimes photodissociation; sometimes net rate of nucleosynthesis can net rate of nucleosynthesis can be higher in LENR systems than be higher in LENR systems than in some stellar environmentsin some stellar environments

Supernova remnant

Artist’s conception: red giant star from surface of an orbiting planet

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Astrophysics: neutron-capture nucleosynthesis in stars

Note: stellarNote: stellar ss-- and rand r--process element abundance process element abundance peaks generally differ somewhat from those peaks generally differ somewhat from those

produced in LENR experimental systems on earthproduced in LENR experimental systems on earth

rr--process pathway is thin, process pathway is thin, jagged bright red line abovejagged bright red line above

Partial details of sPartial details of s--process in starsprocess in stars Overall rOverall r--process in starsprocess in stars

Colored arrows in chart show Colored arrows in chart show a portion of the sa portion of the s--process process

pathway in starspathway in stars

AboveAbove rr--process figure is from Sneddon and Cowen, process figure is from Sneddon and Cowen, “Genesis of the Heaviest Elements in the Milky Way “Genesis of the Heaviest Elements in the Milky Way

Galaxy” Galaxy” ScienceScience 299, 299, 70 (2003)70 (2003)

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Vast isotopic parameter space may be accessible to LENRs

Source of Graphic: Nature, 445, January 4, 2007

LENR neutronLENR neutron--catalyzed weak interaction transmutationscatalyzed weak interaction transmutations –– involve combination of neutron involve combination of neutron production, neutron capture, and energetic beta decays of neutroproduction, neutron capture, and energetic beta decays of neutronn--rich isotopes. LENRs can move back rich isotopes. LENRs can move back and forth between producing stable products in the (black) valleand forth between producing stable products in the (black) valley of stability to unstable y of stability to unstable ββ--decay decay isotopes located in neutronisotopes located in neutron--rich (greenish) regions to the right of it. rich (greenish) regions to the right of it. This is very similar to sThis is very similar to s-- and rand r--process neutronprocess neutron--capture nucleosynthesis in stars, only at vastly lower temperatucapture nucleosynthesis in stars, only at vastly lower temperatures/pressuresres/pressures

‘‘Map’ of stable and unstable isotopes that could be produced in LMap’ of stable and unstable isotopes that could be produced in LENR condensed matter systemsENR condensed matter systems

This vast neutron-rich isotopic region may be accessible to LENRs

‘Valley of stability’ (nuclei of stable elements) shown in black