Experimental Observations of Nuclear Activity in Deuterated Materials Subjected to a Low-Energy Photon Beam

Bruce M. Steinetz; Theresa L. Benyo; Vladimir Pines; Marianna Pines; Lawrence P. Forsley; Paul A. Westmeyer; Arnon Chait; Michael D. Becks; Richard E. Martin; Robert C. Hendricks; Nicholas Penney; Annette M. Marsolais; Tracy R. Kamm

arXiv · 1704.00694

Experimental Observations of Nuclear Activity in Deuterated Materials Subjected to a Low-Energy Photon Beam

Bruce M. Steinetz·Theresa L. Benyo·Vladimir Pines·Marianna Pines·Lawrence P. Forsley·Paul A. Westmeyer·Arnon Chait·Michael D. Becks·Richard E. Martin·Robert C. Hendricks·Nicholas Penney·Annette M. Marsolais·Tracy R. Kamm

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Abstract

Exposure of highly deuterated materials to a low-energy (nom. 2 MeV) photon beam resulted in nuclear activity of both the parent metals of hafnium and erbium and a witness material (molybdenum) mixed with the reactants. Gamma spectral analysis of all deuterated materials, ErD2.8-C36D74-Mo and HfD2-C36D74-Mo, showed that nuclear processes had occurred as shown by unique gamma signatures. For the deuterated erbium specimens, posttest gamma spectra showed evidence of radioisotopes of erbium (163Er and 171Er) and of molybdenum (99Mo and 101Mo) and by beta decay, technetium (99mTc and 101Tc). For the deuterated hafnium specimens, posttest gamma spectra showed evidence of radioisotopes of hafnium (180mHf and 181Hf) and molybdenum (99Mo and 101Mo), and by beta decay, technetium (99mTc and 101Tc). In contrast, when either the hydrogenated or non-gas-loaded erbium or hafnium materials were exposed to the gamma flux, the gamma spectra revealed no new isotopes. Neutron activation materials showed evidence of thermal and epithermal neutrons. CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors showed evidence of fast neutrons with energies between 1.4 and 2.5 MeV and several instances of triple tracks, indicating greater than 10 MeV neutrons. Further study is required to determine the mechanism causing the nuclear activity

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Bruce M. Steinetz, Theresa L. Benyo, Vladimir Pines, Marianna Pines, Lawrence P. Forsley, Paul A. Westmeyer, Arnon Chait, Michael D. Becks, Richard E. Martin, Robert C. Hendricks, Nicholas Penney, Annette M. Marsolais, Tracy R. Kamm. 2017-04-03. Experimental Observations of Nuclear Activity in Deuterated Materials Subjected to a Low-Energy Photon Beam. https://arxiv.org/abs/1704.00694

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