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Line 1: − + − + + + + + + + + + + + − − ==Pseudoscience== − Pons and Fleischmann were actually doing low-quality real science, not pseudoscience. Most Current advocates, however, are well into the realm of the determined pseudoscientist. The effects are not reproducible under independent verification, or even consistently reproducible at all. Even among cold fusion researchers, reports of substantial excess heat are rare, as shown in the 2010 review. The existence of this effect, and especially the lack of gamma radiation, is contrary to the current understanding of nuclear physics, for which there is massive evidence. − Proponents trumpet any paper concerning the subject that achieves peer review in any venue whatsoever, as if "peer reviewed" meant "solid verified and settled science" rather than "not-obviously-wrong request for comment." Proponents advocate cold fusion as an alternative energy source with imminent practical utility, despite the aforementioned lack of reproducibility. At the same time, proponents try to blame their lack of success on persecution from the establishment. The theories proposed to explain the supposed effect, outlined in the 2010 review, are little more than contrived rationalizations of the claimed observations. When considered in the context of what is already known about physics and chemistry, they border on the nonsensical. There is a continuing failure to find a setup that consistently (nearly 100% of the time) reproduces the supposed effect. The great majority of written-up experiments fail even to obtain excess heat. − ===Examples=== − Entrepreneur and inventor Andrea Rossi has announced the E-Cat (Energy Catalyzer), a device claimed to generate kilowatt-level heat from nickel and hydrogen. Rossi has explained this as involving the transmutation of nickel into copper,<ref>http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/12/the_nuclear_physics_of_why_we.php The Physics of why the e-Cat's Cold Fusion Claims Collapse] (Peter Thieberger and Ethan Siegel, ''Starts With A Bang!'', 2001-12-05)</ref> a reaction so ridiculously unfeasible it doesn't occur even in supernovae. Demonstrations of Rossi's devices have been controversial and insufficient details have been released for independent third-party verification. The claimed reaction has not been supported by independent observers, even by a physicist (Sven Kullander) who has supported the claims of excess heat. Even cold fusion proponents are skeptical of Rossi's claims. − +
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'''Cold fusion''' is the hypothetical effect resulting in excess heat that some scientists have claimed could be produced from nuclear fusion near room temperature. In 1989, electrochemists Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons of the University of Utah claimed to have produced such an effect by placing [[palladium]] electrodes in a glass of heavy water, <ref>http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/1258</ref> and some speculated that this could become a source of cheap energy in the future. After Fleischmann and Pons made their claim, the effect initially was unable to be replicated by scientists, and the claim was generally discredited.
'''Cold fusion''' is a popular name for an effect resulting in apparent excess heat, that some scientists have claimed could be produced from a nuclear reaction, mechanism unknown, near room temperature.
Research is ongoing in the US at SRI in California, in Italy at several universities, in Japan at Toyota and various universities, and in several other countries. Research funding sources in the US include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration (DARPA), and the Department of Defense, Threat Reduction Agency.
In 1989, electrochemists Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons of the University of Utah claimed to have produced such an effect loading a [[palladium]] cathode through electrolysis in heavy water, and some speculated that this might possibly become a source of cheap energy in the future.
After Fleischmann and Pons made their claim, a number of attempts to replicate the effect failed, and the claim was generally discredited. However, work continued, and Mike McKubre of Stanford Research International, and Miles and Bush at the United States Navy China Lake Research Laboratory, showed that a deuterium to palladium loading ratio of greater than 90% was needed to see the effect. The initial failures at MIT and CalTech used loading of well under 80%.
Further it has been shown that helium, in connection with the Fleischmann-Pons Heat Effect, is produced with a ratio to the anomalous heat that is commensurate with the ratio expected from some form of deuterium fusion to helium (though this ratio would be found with any reaction that starts with deuterium and ends with helium). This field is being actively researched today (circa 2012).
The field has been covered in many academic publications in recent years, including a review by Edmund Storms, "Status of cold fusion (2010)," ''Naturwissenschaften,'' October 2010. lenr-canr.org/acrobat/StormsEstatusofcoa.pdf (preprint)
Research is ongoing in many laboratories around the world. There are also companies claiming to have working demonstration devices, claiming power levels that could see commercial usage; however there is no open independent evidence that these devices work, and some cold fusion researchers are skeptical of the claims.
The field has expanded from deuterium in palladium to also include hydrogen in nickel and nickel nano-powder, low energy glow discharge experiments and transmutation experiments (mostly in Japan). Research funding sources in the US include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration (DARPA), and the Department of Defense, Threat Reduction Agency.
The next international conference will be the 17th International Conference on Cold Fusion in Deajeon, Korea, August 12-17, 2012.
The next international conference will be the 17th International Conference on Cold Fusion in Deajeon, Korea, August 12-17, 2012.
== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Physics]][[Category:Fringe physics]][[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[Category:Physics]][[Category:Chemistry]][[Category:Fringe physics]]