Low Energy Nuclear Reactions and Sub-Barrier Neutron Transfers

The problem of anomalous heat production by hydrogenated metals is analysed in the light of deep sub-barrier nucleon transfer reactions. Consideration of the phenomena of condensed matter low energy nuclear reactions and in-vacuum few-body nuclear transfer reactions suggests that LENRs could be due to interactions among the isotopes of hydrogen and certain metals. It is postulated that hydrogen isotope infused heat-producing metals are analogous with in-vacuum ion beam plus metal target systems. It is argued that deep sub-barrier, positive Q-value, nucleon transfers among hydrogen and helium isotopes and certain medium and heavy mass metals should occur under condensed matter conditions. It is concluded that several low energy nuclear reaction phenomena cannot yet be excluded as signatures of deep sub-barrier few-nucleon transfers between the nuclei of solvent metals and their dissolved gases. The need for new nuclear models is adumbrated.