Pyroelectric fusion

Pyroelectric fusion refers to the technique of using pyroelectric crystals to generate high strength electrostatic fields to accelerate deuterium ions (tritium might also be used someday) into a metal hydride target also containing deuterium (or tritium) with sufficient kinetic energy to cause these ions to undergo nuclear fusion. The process of light ion acceleration using electrostatic fields and deuterium ions to produce fusion in solid deuterated targets was first demonstrated by Cockcroft and Walton in 1932 (see Cockroft-Walton generator). Indeed, the process is used today in thousands of miniaturized versions of their original accelerator, in the form of small sealed tube neutron generators, in the petroleum exploration industry.

The process of pyroelectricity has been known from ancient times.[1] The first use of a pyroelectric field to accelerate deuterons was in 1997 in an experiment conducted by Drs. V.D. Dougar Jabon, G.V. Fedorovich, and N.V. Samsonenko.[2] This group was the first to utilize a lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) pyroelectric crystal in fusion experiments.

The novel idea with the pyroelectric approach to fusion is in its application of the pyroelectric effect to generate the accelerating electric fields. This is done by heating the crystal from −30°C to +45°C over a period of a few minutes.

In April 2005 a UCLA team headed by the Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Fellow of the Royal Society James K. Gimzewski and Professor of Physics Seth Putterman utilized a tungsten probe attached to a pyroelectric crystal in order to increase the electric field strength.[3] Brian Naranjo, a graduate student working on his Ph.D. degree under Dr. Putterman, conducted the experiment demonstrating the use of a pyroelectric power source for producing fusion on a laboratory bench top device.[4] The device used a lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) pyroelectric crystal to ionize deuterium atoms and to accelerate the deuterons towards a stationary erbium dideuteride (ErD2) target. Around 1000 fusion reactions per second took place, each resulting in the production of an 820 keV helium-3 nucleus and a 2.45 MeV neutron. The team anticipates applications of the device as a neutron generator or possibly in microthrusters for space propulsion.

A team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, led by Dr. Yaron Danon and his graduate student Jeffrey Geuther, improved upon the UCLA experiments using a device with two pyroelectric crystals and capable of operating at non-cryogenic temperatures.[5][6]

Nuclear D-D fusion driven by pyroelectric crystals was proposed by Naranjo and Putterman in 2002.[7] It was also discussed by Brownridge and Shafroth in 2004.[8] The possibility of using pyroelectric crystals in a neutron production device (by D-D fusion) was proposed in a conference paper by Geuther and Danon in 2004[9] and later in a publication discussing electron and ion acceleration by pyroelectric crystals.[10] None of these later authors had prior knowledge of the earlier 1997 experimental work conducted by Dougar Jabon, Fedorovich, and Samsonenko.[2] The key ingredient of using a tungsten needle to produce sufficient ion beam current for use with a pyroelectric crystal power supply was first demonstrated in the 2005 Nature paper, although in a broader context tungsten emitter tips have been used as ion sources in other applications for many years. In 2010 it was found that tungsten emitter tips are not necessary to increase the acceleration potential of pyroelectric crystals; the acceleration potential can allow positive ions to reach kinetic energies between 300 and 310 keV.[11]

Pyroelectric fusion has been hyped in the news media,[12] which has overlooked the earlier experimental work of Dougar Jabon, Fedorovich and Samsonenk.[2] Pyroelectric fusion is not related to the earlier claims of fusion reactions, having been observed during sonoluminescence (bubble fusion) experiments conducted under the direction of Dr. Rusi P. Taleyarkan of Purdue University.[13] In fact, Brain Naranjo of the UCLA team has been one of the main critics of these earlier prospective fusion claims from Dr. Rusi P. Taleyarkhan.[14]

References

1. Sidney Lang, "Pyroelectricity: From Ancient Curiosity to Modern Imaging Tool", Physics Today, August, 2005, pp. 31-36, and Sidney B. Lang, "Sourcebook of Pyroelectricity", (London: Gordon & Breach, 1974).

2. V. D. Dougar Jabon, G. V. Fedorovich, and N. V. Samsonenko, "Catalitically Induced D-D Fusion in Ferroelectrics", Brazilian Journal of Physics, Vol. 27, No. 4 (December, 1997), pp. 515-521.

3. B. Naranjo, J. K. Gimzewski and S. Putterman (from UCLA), "Observation of nuclear fusion driven by a pyroelectric crystal". Nature, April 28, 2005. See also a news article on this.

4. Brian Naranjo, "Observation of Nuclear Fusion Driven by a Pyroelectric Crystal", A disssertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, 2006, 57 pages, Dr. Seth Putterman, Committee Chair. No reference to the earlier experimental work of Jabon, Fedorovich and Samsonenk [2] is found in Dr. Naranjo's dissertation.

5. Jeffrey A. Geuther, Yaron Danon “Electron and Positive Ion Acceleration with Pyroelectric Crystals”, Journal of Applied Physics 97, 074109 (April 1, 2005).

6. Jeffrey A. Geuther, "Radiation Generation with Pyroelectric Crystals", A Thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Engineering and Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, April 13, 2007, 176 pages, Dr. Yaron Danon, Thesis Adviser.

7. B. Naranjo and S. Putterman "Search for fusion from energy focusing phenomena in ferroelectric crystals". UCEI Proposal, February 1, 2002.

8. James D. Brownridge and Stephen M. Shafroth, [1], 1 May 2004

9. Jeffrey A. Geuther, Yaron Danon, “Pyroelectric Electron Acceleration: Improvements and Future Applications”, ANS Winter Meeting Washington, D.C, November 14 – 18, 2004.

10. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: 2005-2006 News Releases: "Double Crystal Fusion" Could Pave the Way for Portable Device, NY Team Confirms UCLA Tabletop Fusion

11. W. Tornow, S. M. Lynam, and S. M. Shafroth, "Substantial increase in acceleration potential of pyroelectric crystals", Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 107, 063302 (2010).

12. Matin Durrani and Peter Rodgers "Fusion seen in table-top experiment". Physics Web, April 27, 2005.

13. Rusi P. Taleyarkhan, C. D. West, R. T. Lahey, R. I. Nigmatulin, J. S. Cho, R. C. Block, and Y. Xu, "Nuclear Emissions During Self-Nucleated Acoustic Cavitation". Physical Review Letters, Vol. 96, 034301 (January 2006).

14. Brian Naranjo, "Comment on 'Nuclear Emissions During Self-Nucleated Acoustic Cavitation'", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 97, 149403 (3 October 2006).

External links

* "UCLA crystal fusion website"
* "Mostly cold fusion"