Uncle Al's Cold Fusion Theory
Global
This forum is pathetically short on postings. A dearly beloved Usenet guru,
Uncle Al has recently departed the scene. This provide a fertile field for
opportunist to pick through whatever nuggets of wisdom he left behind.
Accordingly, it is appropriate that Uncle Al's Cold Fusion Theory be
presented in this forum. Al's theory provides a number of testable
assertions so it might spark an interesting discussion. Enjoy.
From: Uncle Al <Uncl...@hate.spam.net>
Organization: The Noble Krell
Newsgroups: sci.physics
Subject: Re: Possible explanation for cold fusion observations
References: <8pjdjs$604$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 21:46:15 GMT
Andre wrote:
>
> Hi.
>
> I just had an idea.
>
> Given that muons occur in cosmic rays, and these can catalyse fusion
> reactions under the right conditions;
>
> Also that the "cold fusion" experiments that have occasionally been
> reported but never reproduced;
>
> What if the effect was actually caused by an increase in cosmic ray
> activity in that particular area at the time of the experiment(s) ;
> this may explain the non-reproducibility of cold fusion.
>
> I propose that this may in fact be the event behind said observations ;
> maybe some sort of freak event that increases the local cosmic ray flux
> for a brief time.
Let's hone Occam's Razor: "Cold fusion" occurs at a fearsomely
reducing (lots of voltage and amperage) palladium cathode that has
been cooked but good for a long time in heavy water/lithium hydroxide
solution. Only lithium as the electrolyte cation "works." Thin
electrodes work better than thick ones. "Evidence" for cold fusion is
stuff like the rig suddenly going "kablooie." How could anybody doubt
the veracity of the experiment?
Is there a trivial chemistry that accounts for this? Of course there
is. Look at a lithium/palladium binary compositional phase diagram.
Alloying palladium with lithium is tremendously exothermic and
substantially drops the melting point of the resulting alloy vs
metallic palladium. Lithium/palladium is a nice brazing alloy. Thin
electodes have less surface area as the square of the radius,
increasing amps/cm^2 in kind at constant current.
Here is your cold fusion: A non-equilibrium metallic lithium-rich
surface zone forms on the palladium electrode during prolonged high
amps/cm^2 electrolysis. It reaches a critical fraction and then tips
over, dissolving in the bulk metal. Massive exotherm. (Liquid metal
BLEVE.) Kablooie!
Control experiment: A cold fusion rig using ordinary distilled water
and lithium hydroxide SOP will demonstrate the same kablooie syndrome.
Muons? Ha!
--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
http://www.ultra.net.au/~wisby/uncleal/
(Toxic URLs! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
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