Fusion Message Board

In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.

Subject: Re: addendum
Date: Sep 24, 5:13 pm
Poster: Robert Mockan

On Sep 24, 5:13 pm, Robert Mockan wrote:

>As I have received private email asking for a more exact and/or comprehensive definition of stripping, let me add the following info to the previous post.
>
>Spallation: A nuclear reaction in which a high-energy photon (i.e., electromagnetic radiation) causes one or more particles (most often neutrons) to be emitted from a target nucleus (usually a nucleus of high atomic number). Spallation is often initiated by a high-energy electron, proton or other light nucleus fired from an accelerator. In spallation, the accelerated particle does not enter the nucleus but instead travels close enough to initiate a high energy photonic transfer with that nucleus or alternatively a bremsstrahlung emission which is absorbed by another nucleus.
>
>Photofission: The splitting of an atom (usually a nucleus of high atomic number) into two parts of approximately equal atomic numbers by the collision of a high-energy photon with the nucleus.
>
>Stripping: The nuclear reaction unique to light nuclei and particularly to deuterium, which can be best understood as an either/or combination of spallation and photofission.
>
>Bremsstrahlung: (German for "Braking Radiation") Electromagnetic radiation from a charged particle as it slows down (decelerates), or as it changes direction due to near collisions with other particles. In a plasma, bremsstrahlung occurs when electrons collide with ions; the acceleration/deceleration of the electrons causes them to radiate bremsstrahlung.
>
>Also note that deuterium, although never classified as radioactive, is known to undergo spontaneous decay, just as if it were radioactive. This rare event could possibly be initiated by neutrino or other light lepton interaction. There are proposed extensions to electro-weak theory that suggest that his kind of decay is not constant but can be augmented by exposure to high voltage over extended periods.
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That last paragraph caught my attention. Could you refer me to references on the electro-weak theory extensions about decay being augmented by exposure to high voltage over extended periods. I came across some patent literature I previously thought nonsensical about just such decay augmentation in heavy elements by exposing them to high voltage gradients in a Van de Graf generator. Hate to think I discarded it in error. Regards, R. Mockan.