Fusion Through Weak Force Interactions [View all]

[mindwalker_i]

I was just reading this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022415935

and remembered an article from earlier today that talks about fusions reactions that use the weak force rather than the strong force. This is what became of "cold fusion" from the late 1980s, but is better understood now. In that case, it appeared that something was happening that released heat and the authors, Pons and Fleishman, claimed that the materials were undergoing fusion, but the experiment was very difficult to reproduce. Energy did appear to be generated. at least sometimes, but the apparatus didn't seem to be producing neutrons as a fusion reaction would (if I remember correctly).

Here is the article:

http://www.gizmag.com/nasa-lenr-nuclear-reactor/26309/

Hydrogen ions are injected into the lattice of nickel and made to oscillate until their electrons are driven into the protons, changing those into neutrons which are absorbed by the nickel atoms. Those become unstable, split into a proton, electron, and a neutrino, turning the nickel into copper.

If this is proven, and the reaction can be made to reliably release energy, reactors could fit into houses or be used in flying cvars and spacecraft.