Fusion Physics and Philosophy

The advancement of science and technology normally occurs through evolutionary research and development. These activities and their fruits, knowledge and capabilities, might be very interesting and useful, but they normally do not challenge our overall view of the world. When something revolutionary comes to light, the potential paradigm shift, then we are forced to examine both our knowledge and our beliefs, which are intertwined. The topic called “cold fusion” caused reexamination of the physics of nuclear reactions and some aspects of the philosophy of science. We will consider these factors after a brief introductory survey of the complex experiments and results reported in the field, and the motivations for continued attention. “Cold fusion” is used here as an accepted label for the arena of interest, and not a statement about whatever processes might be involved. 1