The cold fusion debate

JZlecrrochimica AC&T, Vol. 34, No. 9, p. 128?, 1989. MaxwclE Per-on Macmillan plc. Printed m GreatBritain.

EDITORIAL THE

COLD

FUSION

DEBATE

In April 1989 Fleischmann and Pans claimed to have found evidence for the fusion of deuterium nuclei when D 0 is electrolysed using a Pd cathode. Their paper suggested that on electro 1 ysrs of O.lM LiOD in D20 using Pd rods there was: (i)

A release of thermal energy considerably in from classical electrochemical considerations

(ii)

A release

of

fusion

products

, particularly

excess and

of

that

expected

neutrons.

Subsequently many laboratories around the world have attempted to repeat these observations. A number of research groups working in this field were brought together at a recent meeting in Santa Fe. As a result of the work discussed there and other recent publications and announcements it has now become clear that most investigators find: (i)

That within electrolysis

experimental error the thermal energy produced is that which would normally be expected and

(ii)

That the neutron to the background

count during level.

the

electrolysis

of

D20

This then raises the question as to why a small number are claiming either an excess heat effect or excess neutrons take the excess heat the following possibilities arise: (i)

Excess

(ii)

Excess heat has never been produced of errors in the calorimetry.

heat

is produced

only

under

special and

is very

D20

close

of laboratories (or both). If we

circumstances

is only

during

reported

or as

a result

At the present time which of these possibilities is correct is not clear. Electrochemical science requires that those who claim to have observed remarkable heat production should immediately publish full details of their experiments in the normal electrochemical journals so that critical judgments can be made in respect of their claims. Such publications should pay careful attention to the error limits involved in the calorimetry, any special conditions used in the experiment and the question of the relationship between the total electrical energy supplied to the cell and the total thermal energy given out, since it is obvious that, for a short period of time, the thermal power output could exceed the electrical power input as a result of the release of stored chemical energy. An important point which must be made in respect of the possibility of detecting thermal effects due to fusion is that it is extremely unlikely that the order of magnitude of any fusion heat effect will be It would be he same as the order of magnitude of the electrical energy input. expected that any thermal effects due to fusion would either be far too small to detect against the electrical Joule heating or, much less probably, so large as to lead to a thermal energy output orders of magnitude greater than the electrical energy input. It is still an open question as to whether there is a low level of neutron and/or tritium production during D20 electrolysis using Ti or Pd cathodes. Again it is important that those claiming positive results should publish these results in the literature as soon as possible so that an analysis of the claims can be made. R.D.

Armstrong

22 June

1989