[sci.space] Cold Fusion

Dale.Amon@H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU (03/30/89)

Question:

	If the fusion is occuring because of the "overlap" of the wave
functions, could it be that the cross section for the proton branch and
the neutron branch are sensitive to the precise distance? Can you
effectively "tune" the n,p output by controlling the distance?

I am suggesting (with out the experience to go off solving wave
functions myself) that the lattice separation in the Palladium may
control which reaction occurs. We would never have seen this before
because we have not had atoms at "static" distances from each other, we
have been slamming them as close together as possible as quickly as
possible.

Can anyone do the math? Seems like this might be down Bill Higgins or
Mr. Koloc's alley.

dan@salt.uucp (Dan Williams) (03/31/89)

	Just saw an Associated Press story claiming that James Fletcher
will be returning to the University of Utah to Head the states efforts to
cash in on the cold fusion breakthrough.  How about that for a cold fusion
space Tie in?   
	The Governor of Utah is trying to break loose $5 million for this
program.  Sounds a little light to me but they sure are acting fast.
	Also it looks like someone at the March 23 news conference stole
all the diagrams illustrating the process.  Look for news organizations
with exclusive diagrams. 

 _______________________________________________________
|   Fusion is a reality.  Just ask the Governor of Utah |
|   Dan Williams 		 uunet!salt!dan		|
|   MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 	 Denver CO			|
|   Any opinions expressed by me are not the 		|
|   opinions of McDonnell Douglas.			|

jon@cernvax.UUCP (jon) (03/31/89)

Professor Fleischmann one of the authors of the paper on
sustained nuclear fusion at room temperature is giving a special
seminar a CERN this afternoon ... I'll try to keep notes of the
relevant points and will post a resume after the talk. At least I
should be able to get a good idea if this a realistic method of
producing power or if it is just a laboratory quirk.

*---------------------------------------------------------------*
|                                                               |
| Jon Caves             {world}!mcvax!cernavx!jon               |
| Division DD,          jon@cernvax.cern.ch                     |
| CERN CH-1211,                                                 |
| Geneva 23,            "Quote? I haven't got time to think     |
| Switzerland.             of a quote!"                         |
|                                                               |
*---------------------------------------------------------------*

pjs@ARISTOTLE-GW.JPL.NASA.GOV (Peter Scott) (04/04/89)

If this is valid, how might it affect the cost of antimatter production?

Peter Scott (pjs@grouch.jpl.nasa.gov)

Dale.Amon@H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU (04/04/89)

A quick look at E. Brit. came up with two methods of D2/H2 separation.

There earliest one is electrolysis. H2O splits easier than D20 so
electrolysis gradually enriches the solution. This was the earliest
technique used.

A slightly later technique uses liquid hydrogen/deuterium and relies on
a slight difference in boiling points.

It was mentioned that there were more modern cost effective methods,
but no other details were given.

I also applaud the way in which F&P made their announcement. If this
technique is for real, there are trillions of dollars at stake, massive
international redistributions of wealth and power...

By giving out the essential details to the entire world in a surprise
press conference, they prevented any attempts at applying the
"Born secret" farce that is applied to things nuclear (in what I
consider a gross violation of the first amendment).

They may also have done it to insure their safety. There is real money
involved here. Not to mention the potential collapse of OPEC, some of
whose members are not known for their 20th century civilization.

------ IF ------- this is for real. I keep expecting to wake up.