Transmutation Reactions in Condensed Matter

Abstract

The appearance of many elements on palladium electrodes after long-duration electrolysis in heavy water at high pressure, high temperature, and large current density was confirmed by several analytic methods. Mass numbers as high as 208 corresponding to elements ranging from hydrogen to lead were found, and the isotopic distributions of many of these elements were radically different from the naturally occurring ones. Changes in element distribution and in their isotopic abundances took place during electrolysis in both heavy and light water, whether or not excess energy was generated. If the transmutation mechanism can be understood, it may then be possible to control the reaction, and perhaps produce macroscopic quantities of rare elements by this method. In the distant future, industrial scale production of rare elements might become possible, and this would help alleviate material shortages worldwide.