M. McKubre of the SRI also reported the results of his calorimetric measurements, using a closed cell. He confirmed the generation of excess heat, and emphasized the importance of the loading ratio and the internal geometry of the cell. From the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Edmond Storm's paper was presented by Claytor. It reported that two palladium plate specimens similar to those used by Takahashi and F&P were used in his measurements. With one specimen, a steady increase in the excess power reaching 7.5 watts ( 20% of input power) was observed. However the second plate did not produce any measurable excess heat. These results were checked by his associates. Lack of any excess heat with the second plate was explained and confirmed to be due to the internal cracks that reduced the high D/Pd ratio required for the excess heat. It is a highly significant observation as it highlights the importance of the cathode material characteristics, which have received very little attention of the researchers on cold fusion. Keiji Kunimatsu of the IMRA reported an electrolytic cell pressurized with deuterium gas in which loading ratio in a palladium cathode could be determined in situ during the cold fusion experiments. A gas diffusion type fuel cell anode which was partially immersed in the electrolyte served as an anode to ionize deuterium gas to deuterium ions. The loading ratio can be determined from the decrease in the gas pressure during the electrolysis at constant current. The temperature of the electrolyte, palladium cathode and the gas phase were monitored simultaneously with other parameters such as pressure, cell voltage cell current and hydrogen overvoltage on palladium measured against the reversible hydrogen electrode in the same solution. It was shown that the excess heat became prominent around D/Pd 0.85, for which it was also necessary to use a high over potential. Calorimetric measurements using a closed cell in which D2 and O2 generated as a result of electrolysis are recombined in the presence of a catalyst showed, excess heat per unit volume of 0.57 watt per cubic centimeter in a 27 day run made at an energy input of 0.200W. Srinavasan of Bhaba Atomic Energy Center, India, in a series of experiments, using Mills and Kneizys type of cells with porous nickel cathodes and solutions of carbonates of potassium, sodium and lithium in mixtures of light and heavy water, demonstrated excess heat of up to 70% above the calibration curve. Current density of 1-2 mA/cm2 was used in these runs. Analysis of the electrolyte after the electrolysis showed tritium eleven times the control 'values, in the case of six out of 12 cells. However, one unexplained observation was that tritium was also observed in cells with only H20. In view of the importance of the surface area in these studies, Yoshiki Arata of the Osaka University, used a cathode with a layer of plasma sprayed palladium. The coating was presumably full of porosity, microcracks, stresses etc. This electrode produced reproducibly excess heat. When withdrawn from the electrolyte the electrode temperature continued to rise. One cathode registered a rise of 350C. Cathodes without plasma spray coating did not show any of these temperature excursions. Bor Yann Liaw of University of Hawaii, had earlier reported that use of elevated temperature deutride containing molten salts promise great potential for charging deuterium into metals for excess heat generation. In the paper presented they reported the results of their voltametric studies, from which they suggested More recent work reported at this conference by Takahashi, involving Ti, Al-TiAl, Al-T1, and Ti-Al alloy cathodes, and many variations of experimental parameters showed peaks at energies predicted by his multibody fusion model. At the conference a number of other mechanisms and models were presented. Some of the interesting ones included quantum electrodynamical coherent processes (Preparata), Dicke superradiance effect (Hagelstein MIT), quantum mechanical model (Chechin and Tsarev, Moscow), 'Natto' model (Matsumoto, Japan), dineuteron model (Jeffu Yang, China), a mechanism based on the reduction of the barrier penetration factor lamda due to electronic screening in solid metal under transient coherent flow of neutrons (Noriaki Matsunami, Japan), sono fusion (Kenji Fukushima, Japan), combined resonance tunneling in low energy d + d system allowing appreciable penetration through coloumb barrier (Xing Zong Li, China), fracto fusion (Norio Yabuchi, Japan), Surfdyne (Peter Gluck, Romania), Boson -in Boson -out model of Chub and Chub (Waber USA) and many others. It was difficult to evaluate the applicability of most of them, as all these were in the process of development. Only a few proponents, notably Takahashi, stated that their model was confirmed by the experimental results obtained in their labs. Excess Heat and Calorimetry: There were a large number of papers on the confirmation of the excess heat effect and improved calorimetry to measure unambiguously the thermal effect which could be attributed to a nuclear phenomenon. Unambiguous excess heat was reported using the following different approaches: Electrochemical: The experimental conditions used by F&P are fairly well known. They have shown that using a electrolytically deuterium loaded palladium-Ag cathode and an electrolyte consisting of a solution of L10D in D20, bursts of excess heat were observed at a constant current of 100 mA/cm2. Although in the early stages of their work reproducibility of such results was very unsatisfactory, at this conference they were able to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve this effect with a greater confidence. They showed a video in which four cells were being electrolyzed to a state that the electrolyte was boiling. From this they concluded that it was possible to generate excess enthalpy as high as 1 kW/cm3 in the temperature region of boiling point of the electrolyte. When asked about the causes of some of the failed experiments, Fleishman responded that the critical parameters were D/Pd ratio( which should be higher than .85), high current density (higher than 100mA/cm2) and a cathode free of microcracks. If these conditions are not met there is a great probability of poor or no heat effect. Professor Takahashi obtained reproducible excess enthalpy by pulse electrolysis using palladium cathode of configuration different from those used by F&P. A one mm thick 25 mm square palladium plate of high purity (99.99), supported by 2 polyethylene bricks and surrounded by a cofl of platinum wire anode placed in a glass cell were used. The electrolyte was a solution of 3 mol L100 in 020. Using the same approach, Takahashi made calorimetric studies, in which current applied was in the saw tooth (30mA/300mA/cm2 with 20 minute period) pulse mode. 2-3 watt excess heat was M. McKubre of the SRI also reported the results of his calorimetric measurements, using a closed cell. He confirmed the generation of excess heat, and emphasized the importance of the loading ratio and the internal geometry of the cell. From the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Edmond Storm's paper was presented by Claytor. It reported that two palladium plate specimens similar to those used by Takahashi and F&P were used in his measurements. With one specimen, a steady increase in the excess power reaching 7.5 watts( 20% of input power) was observed. However the second plate did not produce any measurable excess heat. These results were checked by his associates. Lack of any excess heat with the second plate was explained and confirmed to be due to the internal cracks that reduced the high D/Pd ratio required for the excess heat. It is a highly significant observation as it highlights the importance of the cathode material characteristics, which have received very little attention of the researchers on cold fusion. Keiji Kunimatsu of the IMRA reported an electrolytic cell pressurized with deuterium gas in which loading ratio in a palladium cathode could be determined in situ during the cold fusion experiments. A gas diffusion type fuel cell anode which was partially immersed in the electrolyte served as an anode to ionize deuterium gas to deuterium ions. The loading ratio can be determined from the decrease in the gas pressure during the electrolysis at constant current. The temperature of the electrolyte, palladium cathode and the gas phase were monitored simultaneously with other parameters such as pressure, cell voltage cell current and hydrogen overvoltage on palladium measured against the reversible hydrogen electrode in the same solution. It was shown that the excess heat became prominent around D/Pd 0.85, for which it was also necessary to use a high over potential. Calorimetric measurements using a closed cell in which D2 and O2 generated as a result of electrolysis are recombined in the presence of a catalyst showed, excess heat per unit volume of 0.57 watt per cubic centimeter in a 27 day run made at an energy input of 0.200W. Srinavasan of Bhaba Atomic Energy Center, India, in a series of experiments, using Mills and Kneizys type of cells with porous nickel cathodes and solutions of carbonates of potassium, sodium and lithium in mixtures of light and heavy water, demonstrated excess heat of up to 70% above the calibration curve. Current density of 1-2 mA/cm2 was used in these runs. Analysis of the electrolyte after the electrolysis showed tritium eleven times the control 'values, in the case of six out of 12 cells. However, one unexplained observation was that tritium was also observed in cells with only H20. In view of the importance of the surface area in these studies, Yoshiki Arata of the Osaka University, used a cathode with a layer of plasma sprayed palladium. The coating was presumably full of porosity, microcracks, stresses etc. This electrode produced reproducibly excess heat. When withdrawn from the electrolyte the electrode temperature continued to rise. One cathode registered a rise of 350C. Cathodes without plasma spray coating did not show any of these temperature excursions. Bor Yann Liaw of University of Hawaii, had earlier reported that use of elevated temperature deutride containing molten salts promise great potential for charging deuterium into metals for excess heat generation. In the paper presented they reported the results of their voltametric studies, from which they suggested formation of DCL and associated high electrochemical potential as possible mechanism responsible for high loading of deuterium in Pd, which leads to the generation of excess heat. As has already been mentioned earlier in this report that Yamaguchi of NTT confirmed the excess heat generation in his vacuum system in which the palladium sheet had an oxide layer on one side and after deuterium charging a thin film of gold was applied on the other side. This system when exposed to high vacuum in a thermal gradient showed gigantic burst of 1-2 x 10exp 6 n/s, explosive gas leak, uniform biaxial bending caused by plastic deformation and excess heat evolution. By applying electric current of 0.5-0.8A/cm2 perpendicularly to the same plate the excess heat accompanied by the gas release and plastic deformation of the cathode was observed with 100% reproducbility. In these experiments emission of charged particles with maximum energy of 3 MeV was also observed. In addition, incorporation of a mass spectrometer in the system enabled them to confirm that the evolved gas was "He. Nuclear Products of Cold Fusion: In a number of papers evidence for the presence of so called ash of cold fusion reactions, such as neutrons, tritium, helium, protons, gama radiation and even alpha particles were reported. For example, J. Kasagi bombarded highly deuterized titanium with 150keV deuteron beam, and using surface barrier silicon detector observed particles with energies up to 17 MeV. These particles were identified as protons resulting from D (d,p) T reaction. In addition there existed a broad peak for 12.5<Ep<16.5 MeV and a sharp peak at 14.1 MeV, which are superimposed on a continuous signal of protons. Takahashi's observations of neutron emission in the L/H mode of electrolysis of heavy water electrolysis were confirmed by many at this conference. Emission of He was reconfirmed by Dr. Bockris in his presentation, in which he also reported the production of helium accompanying tritium. The analysis was performed by Hoffman by mass spectrometry. The Chinese researchers also confirmed the emission of the neutrons and tritium in their experiments on the electrolysis of the heavy water using palladium received from the sources in Soviet Union. Some of the Chinese posters indicated reproducible observations of the nuclear products with much higher confidence than the overall confidence level of the confrees. For example, Fu Yibet and group from the Southwest Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, reported reproducible emission of neutrons (100-1000 n/sec), in the F&P type of electrolysis set up equipped with BF3 counters, when the electrolyte temperature reached 35C and the current density was higher than 100mA/cm2. Cooling the electrolyte by the addition of ice cubes, stopped the emission of neutrons. After the electrolysis, analysts of the electrolyte confirmed the presence of tritium. In another series of runs, palladium sheet specimens were loaded with high pressure deuterium (10 atmos) at liquid nitrogen temperature, and cycled between LN temp and -5C. When X-ray film was exposed to these specimens, the specimens gave an image on the film, if the temperature of the specimen was increased to -5C. At liquid nitrogen temperature there was no image. Also exposing the film without palladium, but sandwiched between two copper sheets, did not leave any image. Li reported that at the Institute of Sichuan Materials and Technology, 100% reproducible emission of neutrons could be observed in a reactor in which a pair of palladium electrode are positioned symmetrically with a third electrode in the form of palladium film deposited on the inner surface of the reactor. Under a dynamic gas pressure of 4-13 Pa deuterium and at 7-11 KV (50Hz) applied to the Pd electrodes a steady neutron emission was obtained after 20 minutes. The average rate of the neutron emission was stated as 8000 neutrons/sec. A number of papers and posters originating from Russia, confirmed the emission of nuclear products at low temperatures. In one of the interesting presentations, Kleive from the Institute of High Temperature Physics reported that a single crystal of tungsten bronze can provide a medium for the nuclear fusion of deuterium. The emission of neutrons and the excess heat were very reproducible. However, the results are structure sensitive. Tsarev of the Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow reported neutron emission at the phase transition of deuterium carrying systems including A12(SO4)3K2SO.24 D20 alums and potassium sodium tartrate.4020, the so called Seignett's salt. Takashi conducted deuterium implantation of 19 micrometer thick palladium foil coated with 0.3 micron thick Ag on one side, to suppress the diffusing out of deuterium. Signals recorded with Si-SSD detector were interpreted as coming from the d-d reactions. H. Liu from Colorado School of Mines and Long Huqing et al from the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beinjing reported neutron emission from various metals exposed to glow discharge of deuterium gas. Reporting most recent results of his studies on the nuclear fusion reactions in deuterated palladium, Dr. Yamaguchi of NTT stated that in his recent runs, he had definitely established the evidence of the evolution of "He and tritium accompanying the excess heat. From the energy spectroscopy for charged particles, he also concluded that there was an emission at 3MeV protons, and a broad peak at 4.5-6 Mev attributable to alpha or He particles. International Research Activities on Cold Fusion: Dr. Takahasi in a review paper stated that in Japan, at least one hundred researchers were involved for the last two to three years in this field. Some of them were only part time, but others which have been supported by the MONBUSHO and industry were almost full time. But they are in a minority. Presently the MITI has announced a 2-3 million dollar program for the evaluation of cold fusion as a feasible approach to the use of hydrogen or deuterium for the production of energy. A 10 year 25 million dollar follow on program on Hydrogen Energy Technology has also been announced. Dr. Ikegami who is coordinating cold fusion research in Japan, indicated that a consortium of 20 industries are looking into the possible exploitation of cold fusion as a new source of energy. Toyota is also showing active interest. Dr. Fleishman disclosed that he and Pons were working on cold fusion in a laboratory in France funded by TECHNOVA, a Think Tank Set up by MITI. NTT has publicly announced the confirmation of cold fusion by their Labs and is actively supporting Dr. Yamaguchi's work. At the Como Conference, there were 80 papers from the USSR. However because of the political changes in that area, only 25 papers came from Russia. Dr. Tsarev summarized the ongoing work. He stated that in 1992 two symposia which focussed |