Anomalous Neutron Capture and Plastic Deformation of cu and pd Cathodes during Electrolysis in a Weak Thermalized Neutron Field:. Evidence of Nuclei-Lattice Exchange
Abstract
Anomalous neutron capture and plastic deformation in the hardened Cu and Pd cathodes has been established under combined action of electrolysis and a weak thermalized neutron field (WTNF) with a flux in the range of 180-400 n/s cm2. Experiments with these cathodes showed ~7.0% decrease in the 2224 keV n-D gamma peak accompanying thermalized neutron capture inside the PE cavity during electrolysis vs. experiments with annealed Cu and Pd as well as with the background runs (i.e., no electrolysis). The anomalous neutron capture and plastic deformation of Cu and Pd cathodes under combined action of electrolysis and WTNF may be explained energetically by assuming a selective radiationless thermalized neutron capture at high-internal strain concentration sites in the hardened cathodes. The results of these experiments provide straightforward (avoids the Coulomb barrier penetration issue) evidence that nuclei-lattice energy exchange can result in an increase in neutron capture probability and radiationless de-excitation of the resulting compound nuclei.
- Publication:
-
11th Condensed Matter Nuclear Science
- Pub Date:
- February 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1142/9789812774354_0031
- Bibcode:
- 2006cmns...11..379L