Enhancement of cold fusion reaction rates

Abstract

Although major controversy still remains as to the source of the excess thermal power output reported from diverse successful cold fusion calorimetry experiments, considerable independent evidence does exist that low-level, deuterium fueled, cold fusion reactions can occur based upon reported neutron and tritium measurements. Because the specific fusion power output may be very low in present cold fusion experiments, there are numerous features and conditions associated with cold fusion experiments which might enhance fusion reaction rates. The principal focus of attention in enhancing cold fusion reactions occurring in an electrolytic cell is the palladium cathode where deuterium is preferentially absorbed into the cathode. The cathode's physical, metallurgical, and chemical characteristics such as purity, lattice cell size and orientation, chemical and hydrodynamic properties, and its electrical surface conditions and prevailing reactions are known to be important for maximizing deuterium loading. Even the geometrical size and configuration of the cathode and the crystalline grain size and conditioning are apparently important. The composition, pH, flow of the electrolyte, electrolysis employing rapidly time varying electrical potential and current and very high pressure and low temperature operation may also enhance fusion reaction rates.