Reproducible neutron emission measurements from Ti metal in pressurized D2 gas

Abstract

During the past year, we have measured neutron emission from samples of titanium (Ti) metal and sponge in pressurized D 2 gas. In January 1990, we improved our sample preparation procedure and our detector sensitivity level so that the neutron-emission measurements are now reproducible, but not yet predictable. We have measured excess neutron emission from the majority of our most recent samples using our high-sensitivity neutron detectors. The improved sensitivity in our new detector system was obtained by using low-radioactive-background stainless steel tubes, a small detector volume with high efficiency, and additional cosmic-ray shielding. Our most sensitive detector consists of two independent segments making up inner and outer rings of 3He tubes. The combined total efficiency is 44%. In addition to inner and outer ring segments, we have three separate detector systems operating in parallel control experiments to monitor environmental change. We have measured neutron bursts from a variety of samples containing Ti metal and D 2 gas. The low-multiplicity bursts, emitting from 2 to 10 n, occur much more frequently than the higher multiplicity bursts. By measuring high-mass samples (300 g Ti) over several weeks, with many liquid nitrogen temperature cycles, we have detected neutron e mi s s i o n a b o v e t h e b a c k g r o u n d f r o m mo s t o f t h e s a mp l e s wi t h a s i g n i f i c a n c e l e v e l o f 3 t o 9 σ .

New Physical Effects in Metal Deuterides

“…Neutron emissions appear occasionally in burst epsisodes. 96,97,98,99,100 High efficiency neutron detectors were employed, 98 and some of the measurements were performed under conditions where the background was quite low.…”

Anomalous nuclear effects in solids ("cold fusion"): questions still remain

“…Особенности нейтронных измерений в НТС проанализированы в [5]. Клю чевые параметры нейтронных детекторов: эффективность, разрешение по энер гии, временная информация, чувствительность к гамма фону и фону от косми ческих лучей, шумовая восприимчивость.…”

“…В табл. I-III из [5] приведены основные особенности детекторов различ ного типа, возможные источники помех и ложных сигналов и способы защиты от шумов.…”

“…Потенциальные источники ложных сигналов [5] а) Электрические помехи б) Фон космических лучей в) Лабораторный нейтронный фон Таблица III. Защита против ложных сигналов [5] Рассмотрим теперь результаты некоторых недавних работ, выполненных с помощью различной техники и обладающих высокой достоверностью.…”

“…Э к с п е р и м е н т ы по р е г и с т р а ц и и м е д л е н н ы х н е й т р о н о в г р у п п Л о с А л а м о с с к о й н а ц и о н а л ь н о й л а б о р а т о р и и [5] и О б ъ е д и н е н н о г о и н с т и т у т а я д е р н ы х и с с л е д о в а н и й [7].…”