Update and clarifications on experimental studies for nuclear emissions during acoustic cavitation

Abstract

A seminal discovery related to detection of nuclear emissions during acoustic inertial confinement fusion with deuterated acetone has been reported in Science (3/8/2002 issue). Nuclear emissions we measured included 2.5-MeV neutrons and tritium as would be expected from deuterium–deuterium nuclear fusion. These unmistakable statistically significant signatures were measured under conditions commensurate with degassed rapid condensation-induced implosion conditions only with the test fluid deuterated acetone. In these experiments bubble clusters are nucleated in tensioned degassed liquids with neutrons at the nanoscale level and are then made to grow by a factor of ∼100<th>000 in size to the mm scale prior to implosive collapse. Similarly conducted control experiments with natural acetone did not result in any statistically significant nuclear emissions. Shock code simulations (discussed in a companion talk) corroborated these observations and provided insights into the physics of the overall process. Since the recent announcement of this discovery several world-wide researchers have contacted the authors for further clarifications in a variety of areas. The presentation will discuss these issues and questions, and will provide relevant explanations with supporting evidence.