An experimental investigation of low energy nuclear reactions in a DC glow discharge

This work addresses the possibility of low energy nuclear reactions within a DC glow deuterium discharge with palladium electrodes. The hypothesis is that the dynamics typically used in plasma for nuclear reactions must be modified while the reactants are within a dynamic solid-state metallic system. In this work, a DC glow deuterium plasma simultaneously implants deuterons into the cathode and causes crystalline deformations, which act as trapping sites for the mobile interstitial deuterons. A Solid-State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD), called CR-39, was chosen as the technique to investigate the emission of energetic charged particles from the cathode. While other research has used this type of detector, this is the first application in a low voltage DC plasma discharge, i.e., a discharge with electrodes biased below 1 kV. A new analysis technique was developed, which allowed rapid scanning of large CR-39 surfaces. The new method amassed considerably more data than previous studies. After plasma treatments of Pd, tracks in the CR-39 detectors consistently corresponded to 138 ± 21 keV alpha particles emitted from the palladium electrodes. The track densities for deuterium discharges were often ∼100 times above controls with hydrogen and helium. Currently, there are no known means to accelerate ions to these energies within the apparatus. The production of energetic alpha particles with no source of helium or a means to accelerate the ions to such high energies indicate a nuclear reaction occurred. From alpha particle trajectory estimates, it was concluded the reactions originated at the Pd electrodes. This work provides future researchers the basis for establishing a theory for creating Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR).

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nuclear, Plasma, Radiolgc Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Ziehm, Erik

Contributors dc:contributor

• Miley, George H
• Curreli, Davide
• Di Fulvio, Angela
• Kim, Kyekyoon
• Ruzic, David N

• LENR
• SSNTD
• CR-39
• energetic particles
• nuclear reactions in metal
• glow discharge
• palladium deuteride

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Erik Ziehm

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115527

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F115527