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Cold Fusion is the process in which deuterium(and lithium) atoms are compressed inside the lattice of a piece of palladium metal. The compression forces the deuterium and lithium atoms close enough for a sufficient time to quantum tunnel through the energy barrier and fuse, releasing energy directly into the metal lattice without release of neutrons and\or gamma radiation into the external environment. The methods for forcing the deuterium and lithium in are two-fold. First, a precisely setup electrochemical cell is set up with a solution of 99.5% heavy water and .5% lithium oxide. One electrode is made of mossy palladium, which has a super-high surface area, and the other is platinum. A current of 21.3 volts is run through the cell for 100 hours, and then the rods are moved to a fresh cell, where the same current is run through it again; here the energy is produced. The energy produced is in the form of heat, which can be transformed into standard EPS energy. The standard energy-producing reactions are: Li6 + De= He4 + He4 + Energy De + De= He4 + absorbed neutron + energy The output is almost 3.2 kilowatts per cm^3 of electrode material. I am not sure how this would scale up energy-wise to a impulse engine reactor, but it`ll be alot. The prime method of deuterium saturation being electrolytic compression, but a secondary method involving ultrasonic shockwave inducement is also used to ensure room-temperature fusion occurs. Also, the atomic structure induces a screening effect; the electrons in the atoms screen out part of the positive charge of the atoms. In a manner similar to the activity of electrons in superconductors, the electrons in the lattice participate in cooperative phenomena that guide the deuterium atoms in place.The palladium microstructure is such that the deuterium atoms 'snuggle up' inbetween the metal spaces; It can hold up to 900 times its own volume in gas. Palladium- a greyish-white metallic element, used for centuries by chemists as a effective catalyst due to its high surface area. A piece of the metal can hold up to 900 times its own volume in deuterium atoms. The ability of palladium to do this is due to its unique crystalline latice structure, consisting of 6 atoms in a 3D hexagon, with a deuterium atom or two centered in the center, effectively confining them. Screening- The negative charge of the electrons orbiting around palladium atoms acts as a sort of screen, partially cancelling out the proton`s positive charge. This allows them to come closer together, for a longer period of time. A increased temperature enhances the screening effect, most likely due to the increased motion of the electrons. Cooperative Phenomina- Electrons and deuterons(deuterium nuclei) move through the metal in a organized way, emulating the nature of electrons in superconductors and atoms in superfluids; research is continuing to see why this is true. This has three applications. Power source for small weaponry, a intermediate fusion power source between the rubicks-cube sized nanofusion generator and the standard impulse engine fusion generators, or a replacement for hot-fusion engines. |
