RE: [Vo]:Swedish scientists claim LENR explanation break-throughJones-- It was my conclusion reading the paper that the energy required to free a neutron from Li-7 produced a thermal neutron which could be readily absorbed by Ni-58. Note the paper does not address the use of other isotopes of Ni. Natural Ni would pose a radioactive hazard if it is sufficiently exposed to thermal neutrons. An assessment of the thermal neutron flux in a Ni nano particle, based on the estimated production of spalled neutrons would be a desirable side calculation.
The paper makes note of the control of neutrons embodied within the Ni in order to prevent outside activation—see the 3rd paragraph on page 4. There are a number of isotopes that can capture a neutron and still remain stable. From: Jones Beene Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2015 12:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Vo]:Swedish scientists claim LENR explanation break-through From: MarkI-ZeroPoint Ø Ø I posted a ref from physorg ... It involves a new observation about resonance which might tie in with the Swede’s paper... Mark, No problem with the resonance. It’s the neutrons that are the problem. What the Swedes should know, but apparently do not fully appreciate, is that neutrons simply cannot be involved as a modality in LENR, since there is no induced radioactivity. It is as simple as that. In fact, their theory is almost an embarrassment. Neutrons are insidious and difficult to contain. Even at the lowest energy (ultra-cold), neutrons will eventually activate almost everything they come in contact with. The good news would be – this activation should serve as instant proof of LENR when it happens, but the bad news is that it never happens. Most of the mass of the Hot Cat is the element aluminum – in the form of alumina ceramic. Neutron activation of aluminum occurs by numerous neutron capture reactions and the cross-section is substantial for thermal neutrons (few barns) and gets higher with colder neutrons. Such reactions as 27Al + n = 28Al, 27Al(n,a) 24Na, 27Al(n,2n)26Al and 27Al(n,p)27Mg show up at once. Even if by some miracle, only one neutron out of a million diffuses to the tube wall - these insidious little bastards would activate the alumina into a radioactive health hazard within minutes of excess heat showing up. The excited states following activation will undergo beta decay over protracted time periods and emit gammas as the nuclei de-excite to their respective ground states. Radioactivity would continue for months. Since this does not happen, we can be almost certain that neutrons are not involved in the Hot Cat operation.
