We have published a 6-minute video, A Brief Introduction to Cold Fusion. This video explains why we know that cold fusion is a real effect, why it is not yet a practical source of energy, and why it will have many advantages if it can be made practical. The script for this video along with Explanatory Notes and Additional Resources is here.
Current Science, Special Section: Low Energy Nuclear Reactions
February 24, 2015
The journal Current Science, Vol. 108, No. 4, published on February 25, 2015 includes 35 papers about cold fusion, Special Section: Low Energy Nuclear Reactions. The online edition is here.
Papers
Preface
Srinivasan, M.; Meulenberg, A.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0491.pdf
Cold fusion: comments on the state of scientific proof
McKubre, Michael C. H.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0495.pdf
Extensions to physics: what cold fusion teaches
Meulenberg, A.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0499.pdf
Phonon models for anomalies in condensed matter nuclear science
Hagelstein, Peter L.; Chaudhary, Irfan U.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0507.pdf
Development status of condensed cluster fusion theory
Takahashi, Akito
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0514.pdf
Model of low energy nuclear reactions in a solid matrix with defects
Sinha, K. P.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0516.pdf
Selective resonant tunnelling — turning hydrogen-storage material into energetic material
Liang, C. L.; Dong, Z. M.; Li, X. Z.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0519.pdf
Coherent correlated states of interacting particles — the possible key to paradoxes and features of LENR
Vysotskii, Vladimir I.; Vysotskyy, Mykhaylo V.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0524.pdf
How the explanation of LENR can be made consistent with observed behaviour and natural laws
Storms, Edmund
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0531.pdf
Introduction to the main experimental findings of the LENR field
Storms, Edmund
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0535.pdf
Review of materials science for studying the Fleischmann and Pons effect
Violante, V.; Castagna, E.; Lecci, S.; Sarto, F.; Sansovini, M.; Torre, A.; La Gatta, A.; Duncan, R.; Hubler, G.; El Boher, A.; Aziz, O.; Pease, D.; Knies, D.; McKubre, M.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0540.pdf
Highly reproducible LENR experiments using dual laser stimulation
Letts, Dennis
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0559.pdf
Sidney Kimmel Institute for Nuclear Renaissance
Hubler, G. K.; El-Boher, A.; Azizi, O.; Pease, D.; He, J. H.; Isaacson, W.; Gangopadhyay, S.; Violante, V.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0562.pdf
Progress towards understanding anomalous heat effect in metal deuterides
Azizi, O.; El-Boher, A.; He, J. H.; Hubler, G. K.; Pease, D.; Isaacson, W.; Violante, V.; Gangopadhyay, S.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0565.pdf
Replicable cold fusion experiment: heat/helium ratio
Lomax, Abd ul-Rahman
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0574.pdf
Observation of radio frequency emissions from electrochemical loading experiments
Kidwell, D. A.; Dominguez, D. D.; Grabowski, K. S.; DeChiaro Jr, L. F.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0578.pdf
Condensed matter nuclear reactions with metal particles in gases
Cravens, Dennis; Swartz, Mitchell R.; Ahern, Brian
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0582.pdf
Use of CR-39 detectors to determine the branching ratio in Pd/D co-deposition
Mosier-Boss, P. A.; Forsley, L. P.; Roussetski, A. S.; Lipson, A. G.; Tanzella, F.; Saunin, E. I.; McKubre, M.; Earle, B.; Zhou, D.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0585.pdf
Brief summary of latest experimental results with a mass-flow calorimetry system for anomalous heat effect of nano-composite metals under D(H)-gas charging
Kitamura, A.; Takahashi, A.; Seto, R.; Fujita, Y.; Taniike, A.; Furuyama, Y.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0589.pdf
Condensed matter nuclear science research status in China
Dong, Z. M.; Liang, C. L.; Li, X. Z.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0594.pdf
Dry, preloaded NANOR®-type CF/LANR components
Swartz, Mitchell R.; Verner, Goyle M.; Tolleson, Jeffrey W.; Hagelstein, Peter L.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0595.pdf
Directional X-ray and gamma emission in experiments in condensed matter nuclear science
Hagelstein, Peter L.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0601.pdf
Observation and investigation of anomalous X-ray and thermal effects of cavitation
Vysotskii, V. I.; Kornilova, A. A.; Vasilenko, A. O.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0608.pdf
Martin Fleischmann Memorial Project status review
Valat, Mathieu; Hunt, Ryan; Greenyer, Bob
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0614.pdf
Observation of neutrons and tritium in the early BARC cold fusion experiments
Srinivasan, Mahadeva
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0619.pdf
Introduction to isotopic shifts and transmutations observed in LENR experiments
Srinivasan, Mahadeva
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0624.pdf
Transmutation reactions induced by deuterium permeation through nano-structured palladium multilayer thin film
Iwamura, Yasuhiro; Itoh, Takehiko; Tsuruga, Shigenori
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0628.pdf
Biological transmutations
Biberian, Jean-Paul
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0633.pdf
Microbial transmutation of Cs-137 and LENR in growing biological systems
Vysotskii, V. I.; Kornilova, A. A.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0636.pdf
Energy gains from lattice-enabled nuclear reactions
Nagel, David J.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0641.pdf
Lattice-enabled nuclear reactions in the nickel and hydrogen gas system
Nagel, David J.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0646.pdf
Summary report: ‘Introduction to Cold Fusion’ — IAP course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Verner, Gayle; Swartz, Mitchell; Hagelstein, Peter
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0653.pdf
Status of cold fusion research in Japan
Kitamura, Akira
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0655.pdf
Condensed matter nuclear reaction products observed in Pd/D co-deposition experiments
Mosier-Boss, P. A.; Forsley, L. P.; Gordon, F. E.; Letts, D.; Cravens, D.; Miles, M. H.; Swartz, M.; Dash, J.; Tanzella, F.; Hagelstein, P.; McKubre, M.; Bao, J.
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/108/04/0656.pdf
ICCF19 was held in April 2015
February 5, 2015
The ICCF19 International Conference on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science was held in Padua, Italy, April 13 – 17, 2015. The conference website is here:
http://www.iccf19.com/home.html
Here is an overview of the conference by David Nagel.
Levi et al. publish a second, extended report on Rossi reactor
October 8, 2014
The professors who published a report on Andrea Rossi’s high temperature reactor have followed up with second, extended test and a more detailed report:
Levi, G., et al., Observation of abundant heat production from a reactor device and of isotopic changes in the fuel. 2014, Bologna University. A copy is here.
Five outside experts in mass spectroscopy and related fields contributed four appendixes covering the radiation, materials, SIMS and ICP analyses. The research was sponsored by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Elforsk AB., Officine Ghidoni SA, and Industrial Heat LLC (USA).
This test produced 1.5 megawatt-hours of energy continuously, over 32 days. This is 5,825 MJ, or as much energy as you get from burning 139 kg of gasoline. This is a new record for a cold fusion reaction. Previous large reactions produced 50 to 300 MJ.
Michael McKubre reviewed the paper here.
Mats Lewan described the paper here.
Thomas Clarke reviewed that paper here, citing a number of errors.
Here is the Abstract and part of the conclusion:
New results are presented from an extended experimental investigation of anomalous heat production in a special type of reactor tube operating at high temperatures. The reactor, named E-Cat, is charged with a small amount of hydrogen-loaded nickel powder plus some additives, mainly Lithium. The reaction is primarily initiated by heat from resistor coils around the reactor tube. Measurements of the radiated power from the reactor were performed with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras. The measurements of electrical power input were performed with a large bandwidth three-phase power analyzer. Data were collected during 32 days of running in March 2014. The reactor operating point was set to about 1260ºC in the first half of the run, and at about 1400°C in the second half. The measured energy balance between input and output heat yielded a COP factor of about 3.2 and 3.6 for the 1260ºC and 1400ºC runs, respectively. The total net energy obtained during the 32 days run was about 1.5 MWh. This amount of energy is far more than can be obtained from any known chemical sources in the small reactor volume. A sample of the fuel was carefully examined with respect to its isotopic composition before the run and after the run, using several standard methods: XPS, EDS, SIMS, ICP-MS and ICP-AES. The isotope composition in Lithium and Nickel was found to agree with the natural composition before the run, while after the run it was found to have changed substantially. Nuclear reactions are therefore indicated to be present in the run process, which however is hard to reconcile with the fact that no radioactivity was detected outside the reactor during the run.
In summary, the performance of the E-Cat reactor is remarkable. We have a device giving heat energy compatible with nuclear transformations, but it operates at low energy and gives neither nuclear radioactive waste nor emits radiation. From basic general knowledge in nuclear physics this should not be possible. Nevertheless we have to relate to the fact that the experimental results from our test show heat production beyond chemical burning, and that the E-Cat fuel undergoes nuclear transformations. It is certainly most unsatisfying that these results so far have no convincing theoretical explanation, but the experimental results cannot be dismissed or ignored just because of lack of theoretical understanding. . . .
Magnus Olofsson, the CEO of Elforsk wrote about this paper in NyTeknik. He said (Google translation):
Elforsk has in recent years followed the development of what has come to be called nuclear reactions at low energy, LENR – Low Energy Nuclear Reactions. Elforsk include published a compilation of knowledge about LENR. Elforsk has also co-funded the current measurements and earlier measurements. While the earlier measurements showed an unexplained excess energy. . . .
Elforsk takes now the initiative to build a comprehensive Swedish research initiative. More knowledge is needed to understand and explain. Let us engage more researchers in searching [this] phenomenon and then explain how it works.
Here is the official statement about this paper at Elforsk’s website, in Swedish and English.
Mats Lewan reports on Rossi, and Defkalion
May 15, 2014
Reporter Mats Lewan of the Ny Teknik magazine has published a book about the cold fusion researcher Andrea Rossi. The book is titled An Impossible Invention. It is available in English, Swedish and Italian. You can read the first chapter or order the book here.
Nobel Laureate Brian Josephson published a comment at Nature.com describing the book:
The highlight of the week was the publication of Mats Lewan’s book ‘An Impossible Invention’, subtitled The true story of the energy source that could change the world. The author, a science and technology writer, has been investigating the controversial Rossi reactor or E-cat in depth in the 3 years since its initial presentation in Bologna in January 2011. . .
Besides following the course of developments in detail, Lewan gives much attention to the question of whether the device is genuine, or whether fraud is involved. One important event was a long-period investigation [by ELFORSK], published at arXiv:1305.3913, providing strong evidence of the production of anomalous heat. . . .
This fascinating book provides the answers to many questions about the E-cat, and should be read by all skeptics.
In his blog about the book, Lewan revealed that the video demonstration test performed by Defkalion Green Technologies during the ICCF18 conference in July 2013 was invalid. The flow rate was measured incorrectly, because the flow meter was affected by backflow. Subsequent tests showed that the meter sometimes measured as much as 1 L/min when the valve was closed and flow was zero. The instruments indicate spurious excess heat of up to 17 kW where the actual power is 2.5 kW.
The video demonstration test was performed in Italy by a join-venture company Defkalion Europe (DE). Luca Gamberale of DE discovered the problems with the test and wrote about them in his Final technical report on the Defkalion GT calorimetric protocol. As described in the report, when DE discovered the problems, they “immediately stopped/froze all negotiations with both Italian and foreign companies to protect their clients.” DE is now defunct.
Lewan’s blog entry and his discussion with Gamberale reveals even more problems with Defkalion.
ICCF18 Conference
August 9, 2013
The ICCF18 conference on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science (cold fusion) was held July 21 – 27, 2013 at the University of Missouri, Columbia MO. Here is the conference website. The University is uploading presentation slides and posters to MOSpace, the University of Missouri’s digital repository. You can search for specific authors or titles at MOSpace.
A proceedings will be published later.
There were 215 attendees from 21 countries. Here are some statistics from the conference.
ICCF18 group photo. From the ICCF18 Statistics document at the University of Missouri MOspace digital repository. Click for larger image.
Here is an overview of the conference by David Nagel.
Videos of most of the presentations are available from ColdFusionNow.org. Here are videos from:
Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26
John O’M Bockris dead
July 9, 2013
Cold fusion researcher John O’M Bockis died on July 7, 2013 after a brief illness. He was hospitalized last week. He stayed alert and in good spirits, and was able to say goodbye to his friends and relatives. He was 90 years old.
See:
Levi et al. publish a definitive test of the Rossi high temperature reactor
May 20, 2013
A group of seven professors has published a definitive test of Andrea Rossi’s high temperature reactor:
Levi, G., et al., Indication of anomalous heat energy production in a reactor device containing hydrogen loaded nickel powder. 2013, Bologna University.
The paper was uploaded to Cornell’s arxiv.org library, here: http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.3913v1
Mats Lewan described the paper here:
Mark Gibbs of Forbes magazine described the paper here.
Financial support for the test was provided by the Alba Langenskiöld Foundation and ELFORSK AB. ELFORSK is an energy industry consortium. They issued a statement on their web site (in Swedish):
http://www.elforsk.se/Aktuellt/Svenska-forskare-har-testat-Rossis-energikatalysator–E-cat/
Google translate renders this:
Swedish researchers have tested Rossi energy catalyst – E-cat
Researchers from Uppsala University and KTH Stockholm has conducted measurements of the produced heat energy from a device called the E-cat. It is known as an energy catalyst invented by the Italian scientist Andrea Rossi.
The measurements show that the catalyst gives substantially more energy than can be explained by ordinary chemical reactions. The results are very remarkable. What lies behind the extraordinary heat production can not be explained today. There has been speculation over whether there can be any form of nuclear transformation. However, this is highly questionable. To learn more about what is going on you have to learn what is happening with the fuel and the waste it produces. The measurements have been funded by such Elforsk.
Here is the abstract from this paper:
An experimental investigation of possible anomalous heat production in a special type of reactor tube named E-Cat HT is carried out. The reactor tube is charged with a small amount of hydrogen loaded nickel powder plus some additives. The reaction is primarily initiated by heat from resistor coils inside the reactor tube. Measurement of the produced heat was performed with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras, recording data every second from the hot reactor tube. The measurements of electrical power input were performed with a large bandwidth three phase power analyzer. Data were collected in two experimental runs lasting 96 and 116 hours, respectively. An anomalous heat production was indicated in both experiments.
Graham Hubler appointed director of Nuclear Renaissance Institute
March 15, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Duncan has announced that Graham K. Hubler, a nuclear physicist who worked for the Naval Research Laboratory for 40 years, has been named director of the Sidney Kimmel Institute for Nuclear Renaissance (SKINR) at Missouri University.
The Institute and the projects now underway there are described here.