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PROGRESS TOWARDS REPLICATION
PROGRESS TOWARDS REPLICATION
M. McKubre1 , F. Tanzella1 , P. Tripodi2 and V. Violante2
1
SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave. Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA.
2 ENEA, Centro Ricerche Frascati, V. E. Fermi 45 –00044 Frascati, Rome, Italy
ABSTRACT
A collaborative effort has been established formally between SRI International in Menlo Park,
California, and ENEA (Frascati) in Italy. In addition to providing a framework for an International
replication effort, this collaboration is intended to focus the complementary skills of the two laboratories on
carefully selected problems of Pd/D studies.
Researchers are attempting to test and demonstrate the cross-laboratory replicability of gas phase
Pd/D2 excess heat, helium and tritium observations. Similar facilities are being established in both countries
to allow on-line determination of heat effects correlated with 4He, and ultimately 3He measurements from so
called“Case”experimentinvolvingtheapplicationofmodesttemperaturesandD2 gas pressures to a packed
bed of palladium on carbon catalyst and other finely divided metallic catalyst and conductive support
materials.
A second facet of this collaboration is the joint attempt to replicate the production of tritium in
“Arata/Zhang”double-structured cathodes. Massive hollow palladium electrodes were manufactured at
ENEA and sealed to contain palladium black within the enclosed void. Two electrodes were operated at SRI
as electrolytic cathodes in LiOD electrolyte. On experiment termination these electrodes were vented and
their contents examined for 4He, 3He and evidence of tritium. Results of initial gas analyses are presented
here. Further analyses are underway and planned.
Experiments also are underway to study the metallurgical aspects controlling the loading of D into
Pd, and to measure anomalous electrical characteristics and emissions from highly loaded specimens. The
results of these scientific endeavors are reported in accompanying papers [1,2].Опубликовано