Nuclear Emissions During Self-Nucleated Acoustic Cavitation (original) (raw)

ADS

;

• West, C. D. ;
• Lahey, R. T., Jr. ;
• Nigmatulin, R. I. ;
• Block, R. C. ;
• Xu, Y.

Abstract

A unique, new stand-alone acoustic inertial confinement nuclear fusion test device was successfully tested. Experiments using four different liquid types were conducted in which bubbles were self-nucleated without the use of external neutrons. Four independent detection systems were used (i.e., a neutron track plastic detector to provide unambiguous visible records for fast neutrons, a BF3 detector, a NE-113-type liquid scintillation detector, and a NaI γ ray detector). Statistically significant nuclear emissions were observed for deuterated benzene and acetone mixtures but not for heavy water. The measured neutron energy was ≤2.45MeV, which is indicative of deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fusion. Neutron emission rates were in the range ∼5×103n/s to ∼104n/s and followed the inverse law dependence with distance. Control experiments did not result in statistically significant neutron or γ ray emissions.

Publication:

Physical Review Letters

Pub Date:

January 2006

DOI:

10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.034301

Bibcode:

2006PhRvL..96c4301T

Keywords:

• 78.60.Mq;
• 25.45.-z;
• 28.20.-v;
• 28.52.-s;
• Sonoluminescence triboluminescence;
• ²H-induced reactions;
• Neutron physics;
• Fusion reactors