II. Inhibited Diffusion Driven Surface Transmutations

This paper is the second of a set of 3 papers dealing with the role of coherent partitioning as a common element in Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR), by which is meant cold-fusion related processes. This paper discusses the first step in a sequence of 4 steps that seem to be necessary to explain Iwamura 2-alpha-addition surface transmutations. Three concepts are examined: saltmetal interface states, sequential tunneling that transitions D+ ions from localized interstitial to Bloch form, and the general applicability of 2-dimensional vs. 3-dimensional symmetry hosting networks. INTRODUCTION Iwamura et al.1 have developed a LENR process that converts surface Cs atoms into surface Pr atoms using deuterium permeation through a specially structured, largely metal assembly. The assembly consists of a Pd substrate on which are deposited 4 layers of 2-nm CaO overcoated with 8nm Pd, plus 1 CaO layer overcoated with a 40-nm Pd inflow layer. The Iwamura assembly is used as a permeable barrier between a D2-pressurized volume and a vacuum volume. ENVISIONED PROCESS I speculatively model the process as follows. At a CaO,Pd interface, a diffusing deuteron is converted into a coherently-partitioned, nuclearly reactive Bloch form D+Bloch.2 Multiple Bloch deuterons organize themselves into a many-body Bloch-ion subsystem. Independent subsystems form on different CaO crystallites, as shown in Fig. 1. In these subsystems Bloch deuterons fuse, creating Bloch helium ions 4He++Bloch. In a second step two 4He++Bloch fuse, creating a product nucleus 8Be4+Bloch, which is stabilized by being coherently partitioned. The 8Be4+Bloch is energized by increases in coherent partitioning in a process that uses nuclear energy to mobilize the Be ion. The 8Be4+Bloch nucleus spreads out beyond the hosting CaO-metal interface, spreading along accessible Pd-crystallite boundaries, including the interfaces between metal and gas, and metal and vacuum. A Cs atom protruding above the mean surface of the Pd metal is overlapped and infiltrated by the 8Be4+Bloch. The Cs nucleus combines with and absorbs the 8Be4+Bloch nucleus, and becomes a Pr atom. Both the formation of Bloch helium and the transmutation of surface Cs into Pr are exothermic processes.