Cold Fusion: The Quest for Eternal Power

By Dr. Bob Fenn

Cold fusion offers eternal power from water, but this search for destroyed many careers. Despite this, the dream remains as seductive as ever. Many research teams continue still to chase the dream.
Tom, a new research student at Cambridge, begins his quest aided by Freyja, an autistic Icelandic quantum mechanics savant. Henry, the laboratory cat, likes Tom but is inseparable from Freyja. Discrete Intelligence surveillance is maintained over their research to retain its value to the U.K. Over time the pairs relationship shift from co-operative work arrangements to a far closer personal relationship. During this time a far-eastern government actively tries to acquire their work to exploit it for their own ends.
A laboratory accident shows the two the way to create cold fusion by producing slow neutron cascades. Trying to recreate those conditions involves Tom working away from the Cavendish laboratory and, one evening, he is kidnapped whilst cycling home. Held captive, he is interrogated about his work, but manages to escape and work his way back home.
A second attempt some time later kills the two foreign agents involved leaving Tom in a coma and Freyja missing, apparently drowned. Months later, in York, Tom notices a nun carrying a collection tin and believes that he has seen Freyja again and a search begins to locate her. Freyjas identity is un-equivocally confirmed by Henrys reaction the unknown nun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504943840

Book preview

Prologue

Since the dawn of civilisation mankind has been ever hungry for increasing amounts of cheaply available power. In the latter half of the twentieth century, the demand was been for electricity, much of it generated by nuclear fission. Fission, however, produces exceptionally long lived radio-nucleotides’ concomitant with their potential to blight mankind’s existence on planet Earth for millennia to come. The dream of clean, or at least much CLEANER, nuclear power generation is offered by nuclear fusion, where hydrogen nuclei are fused together to form helium nuclei. In the latter half of the 20th century enormous quantities of time, scientific energy and money were invested by all the worlds’ major governments to bring the fusion dream to fruition. By the end of that century some large installations had harnessed nuclear fusion, the power of the sun, but maintained it for only a few seconds at best. None had generated more power than had been consumed in initiating the fusion reaction. None were self-sustaining and should therefore be seen as failures. Nevertheless research into fusion in a large scale operation continued, so seductive are the expected results of the fusion dream.

Swedish work, published in 1927, claimed to have produced helium by fusing hydrogen electrochemically when using palladium electrodes, but the Swedish patent application was refused. When deuterium oxide (heavy water) was available, he repeated his work, but his patent application was once more refused, because he could give no explanation of what physical process had occurred. Since that time, this approach was seemingly forgotten. Unaware of this earlier Swedish work, Fleishman and Ponds published results in 1989 which seemed to prove that they had generated sustained nuclear fusion electro-chemically, noted by anomalous heat generation, when using heavy water and palladium electrodes. This excess heat generation was of such a magnitude that they believed that the only possible explanation was that a nuclear process in operation. Neutrons and tritium had been generated, findings which immediately ignited world-wide media attention and controversy about their results. Cold fusion, as they entitled their project, was first named as early as 1956 and was re-applied to their work and caused sentists world wide to rush to reproduce their results. No definite confirmation of their results was ever shown, however. Such a dearth of scientific confirmation signalled the demise of two prestigious academic careers. The dream, however, refused to die so easily.

Fast forward fifteen years and more, the dream still lives on. Active research was being conducted in at least five countries, once again chasing the dream of electro-chemical cold fusion. Reported results range from small experimental cells to one, large commercial neutron generator. All current approaches still show some relation to the 1927 Swedish work. Certainly electrode metals have changed, as has the electrolyte, but, essentially, they can all trace their lineage back to that initial Swedish work of 1927.

Long lived power sources are a basic requirement for satellites and long duration space travel and exploration, current power sources are reaching their limit of usefulness and thus long term steady power sources will very soon be needed. Weight limitations militate against storage batteries and distant travel, even within our solar system, will require solar panels of enormous dimensions. The further any vehicle travels from the sun the available solar power to be harvested falls as the reciprocal of the distance (from the sun) squared. Hence, long distance (or duration) missions will have decreasing amounts of sun light to gather. Under these conditions, a very long term portable power source is required, that is where the very strength of cold fusion power generation processes can be exploited.

N.A.S.A. is, of course, extremely interested in the process and is actively pursuing work on their L.E.N.R. (Low energy nuclear reactor) for use in long duration mission spacecraft. LENR follows the now long established trend for cold fusion, but employs very high frequency vibration of the electrodes to saturate them with atomic hydrogen gas. This work has been patented, but has not widely been employed. Other interested groups (e.g. Lockheed-Martin) are investing both time and funds, Lockheed-Martin are aiming to commercialise a plant, lorry portable, by 2025 in their attempt to produce their own version of a cold fusion reactor. Such a multiplicity of individual initiatives will generate many other initiatives on that research topic on their continent. This, like the seeding of a field, may produce a good yield or a miserable crop. Whatever the crop, though, the result is highly developed young and flexibly minded scientists, capable of transferring their knowledge and enthusiasm to many other problems. Any investment in these people is always speculative, but remains well worth the costs. In an attempt to maximize potential benefits, any selection process must rigorously seek to find and vet their best and most promising candidates. Even after all that, like all gambles, it may not pay off. Or it may produce spectacular results, there are no guarantees.

In the bid to find the best of the best young scientists available, all suitable Universities will be trawled for their top talent. Valuable rewards, in the form of generous, but directed, fully funded post-graduate scholarships or post-doctoral positions are on offer. Freed from the parsimony inflicted on researchers during earlier courses, awards such as these appear as manna from heaven to a committed researcher. Competition for such posts can be intense, the winnowing process continues even to that point, so by the time a candidate is appointed much can be expected of post-holder.

Exactly such was the process undertaken to fill the position of the proposed NATO fellowship to investigate cold fusion. Wide ranging searches identified an Icelandic candidate capable of original quantum mechanics research, although no such obvious candidate immediately presented themselves’ to undertake the necessary electrochemical aspect. With its’ research reputation in both fields, Cambridge was the obvious choice to host the work in a reasonably secure environment. That there was also an extensive history of quantum mechanics work in both the departments of Chemistry and Physics simply made the choice that much more obvious.

Recruitment of a suitable chemist was left to each departments’ experience, knowing that M.I.5 would maintain a continuous oversight on everything and that only cleared and highly recommended workers would be encouraged to apply anyway. Overall operational departmental control would be exercised by a trusted, high level academic who was expected to maintain the project on a tight rein and keep it ‘on track’ at all times. Funding, too, would ensure that the project suffered no equipment shortages or other financial shortfalls although tight financial scrutiny needed be maintained. As far as fulfilling those financial stringencies were concerned, they were merely normal operating constraints in every University department, presenting no insuperable problems. Cambridge’s role in the deal would be to contribute, and permanently hold available, a student apartment in All Souls College, its’ most secure residence for the duration of the project. All these machinations were to be of no concern to the student, whose task was only to work towards their personal Ph.D.’s.

Chapter 1

When the NATO funded Post-Doc Fellowship was announced and Freyja found out that she had won it she was intrigued to find that it would take her to Britain and to Cambridge University, no less! Even in the isolation of her location in Iceland, Cambridges’ academic reputation shone brightly enough to excite her. Further details of her planned role were less enthralling to her. She would not be in one of the advanced combined Maths/Physics groups, but in the Quantum Chemistry group centred in the Cavendish laboratory. Of course, she knew of the reputation of the Cavendish, almost a hot-house for Nobel laureates, from the Braggs’ at the beginning of the 20th. Century to Rutherford then Dirac and in the mid 1950’s Crick and Watson’s decipherment of the DNA helix structure. But what her particular topic, Energy?

Iceland had all the green energy that it could wish for, courtesy of the natural heating from the abundant volcanic activity on the island. In truth, energy shortages had never crossed Freyja’s radar whilst she was in Iceland. Of course, she KNEW that other lands were no so blessed with abundant energy as was her native land, but a SERIOUS research topic? Most unlikely!

Yet despite her reluctance to believe it, here was the written confirmation, clearly stated in her letter of appointment. Just how a Quantum Physicist, such as she, could possibly contribute to any work was beyond her. Perhaps they just had spare funds and needed to demonstrate reasonable usage! Still, not her problem! Freyja was certain that she would find sufficient problems of one sort or another to keep her occupied over the duration of her contract.

Her first problem was a totally unexpected one, one she had never encountered before, or even expected. She had to get accepted by a college before anything further progress could be made. This was a totally unknown bit of bureaucracy, that she’d never experienced before. Cambridge was helpful, but kept their distance believing that the choice of college, even for post-docs, was a purely personal matter. She soon homed in on Girton after reading the on-line literature. College fees and accommodation were more than comfortably covered in her award, so that choice really did not matter to her.

Becoming a member of Girton meant the other processes all went smoothly and quickly. Girton (‘her college’) allocated her accommodation in a room with internet and decent facilities, so she could be sure of having a location. Traditional communal dining arrangements and their fixed times really didn’t appeal to her, neither did either of the common-rooms available to her. Being a ‘loner’, used to her own company, the enforced bonhomie made her unsettled and anxious. After a week, Freyja gave up the college and moved out into a small, rented flat in Newnham, near the Backs.

Chapter 2

Being accepted as a research student to undertake his Ph.D. at Cambridge fulfilled an ambition for Tom. Cambridge had always been his dream, but family disturbances during his ‘A’ levels had scuppered his chances of grades to get him in for undergraduate studies there, but he had got into York. Chemistry had always been easy, so logical, so straight forward to him that the problems besetting the family during his last school years did not blunt his ‘A’ level performance. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of the remainder of his subjects. Only a powerful recommendation from his school Chemistry teacher (himself a York graduate) direct to the department at York University found Tom filling that years’ last vacancy. Once at University, Tom chose to work hard and lead a quiet cheap life style, taking out only the minimum Student Loans he needed. He needed to prove himself to himself and his supporters.

He did! He ran through the York course so much so that, even from Year 2, his tutors were expecting him to research a Ph.D. His choice of Cambridge rather than York dismayed some potential research supervisors, who could see the value of having him in their research group. Older academics accepted that the Cambridge ‘sheen’ was blinding to a young researcher.

Toms’ acceptance was straightforward, he joined one of the post-graduate colleges without fuss and moved into his allocated college room and began to make it his personal space. He was given one of the previous two people flats, which was O.K. by him. He now had separation between his study area and relaxation area; no longer would he have to use the bed, he now had an old settee! For the first time in his student life, he didn’t feel canned like a sardine and could spread a little. Money became less an issue than it had been as an undergraduate as he had been awarded a small scholarship to cover his college fees.

All connected up, his lap-top became his portal to the outside world and he soon settled into an easy rhythm of experimental work before lunch, lunch at the library and reading into the afternoons. Early evenings found Tom in the common-room meeting friends and the day ended with internet searches chasing e-papers.

Chapter 3

Henry, the laboratory cat, seemed to be well beyond his nine lives span. He strolled imperiously through complex laboratory set-ups, passed searingly hot experiments and yet still had all his fur, eyes, paws and ears and retained his air of ownership of the whole laboratory. Originally he had taken possession by the simple expedient of strolling in one day and de-moused the storage areas. No longer were electrical cables on long term experiments chewed through by mice, there were now no mice! Long term stable experiments were now possible. He became a fixture around the laboratories simply by default and was named Henry after Henry Cavendish, the first true chemist and sion of the family that originally donated the funds to create the laboratories.

Having practically demonstrated his value, he took up residency in the warmest area and there he remained, seemingly for generations of research students. Not only was he tolerated, he became everyone’s mascot and the feline icon of the labs. A legend in his lifetime! His apparent sense of humour was manifest by the way new laboratory member were treated. If Henry kept away from you or your working area, things always seemed to go amiss, should Henry accept you, it was taken as almost a guarantee of success. Henry quickly identified all the cat allergic people and annoyed only the ones who upset him. Usually to be found in the sun atop a radiator or a computer. He was unobtrusive, but always an unerring identifier of the warmest available place.

Chapter 4

Time spent researching various aspects of ones’ particular topic is rarely wasted, but Tom was beginning to think that he was heading into a brick wall with some specific aspects of the quantum mechanics side of his. Almost on the point of total desperation, he made an appointment to meet his supervisor to get help, but none was immediately forthcoming from that source. A note reached him by a circuitous route giving Freyja contact details, along with a cryptic comment that ‘she was here to be useful, so why not contact her?’ Having no knowledge, or other details of her, Tom in an act of pure desperation picked up his day-book and went in search of Dr. Freyja Thorsteinsdottir, ready to plead for help. He had no idea for who he was looking, what she looked like, or even how old she was. He rather thought that, being Icelandic, she would be a long haired Valkyrie type, humourless and, if her name was anything to go by, a lady of mature years.

She wasn’t in her allotted office space and her desk provided no clues. As all the other desks in the office were similarly un-occupied, there was no clue to where, when or even if, she would return in the foreseeable future. After waiting in that bare space for a while Tom could only feel his anxiety level elevating. Tearing a page out of his day book, he wrote a note for her, managing to misspell her name (he got the Doctor bit correct!) followed by a brief description of his work, ending with a heart rending plea for her help, any help! Then he placed clearly visible in the centre of her tidy desk and anchored it down with his spare pen.

Believing that that was all he could usefully achieve for the moment, he stood up and left the deserted office, feeling increasingly hopeless. Coming up the stairs was a rather androgynous figure dressed in floppy black combat trousers, a shapeless and none too clean black nylon anorak and dirty trainers. Blond, of medium height and very pale complexion, Tom immediately identified him as a harassed under-graduate also seeking an academics’ office. It was only when they drew closer that Tom noticed that he really was approaching a young woman. Emboldened, he asked her if she knew of Doctor Thorsteinsdottir, or where she might be at the moment as he urgently needed to see her. Opposite him, the woman stopped, looked him over, the replied in vaguely Nordic accentuated English Yes.

O.K., where is she? Tom asked reasonably.

Her desk is in that room was the abrupt answer he received along with a pointing finger.

Thanks, but I’ve already found that out. I’ve left her a message, but I’d like to see her soon. I need her help.

Buy me coffee in the common room and I’ll pass your message on today.

Glancing anxiously at his watch Tom nodded, simply saying Come on then and strode off along the corridor heading for the stairs, thinking that if he got his message to her today, it would certainly be worth a cup of common-room coffee! His mysterious Nordic acquaintance easy kept up with his determined pace, but said nothing further. During their march to the common-room Tom was wondering why this young woman should know a post-doctorate fellow and why? At the coffee bar Tom ordered two coffees and looked around for an empty table. His companion certainly didn’t appear to be familiar with place, so he picked up both cups and, taking charge, found a reasonably clean table. Putting both cups down Tom dragged up another chair then tested the table cleanliness by picking his cup up and seeing how much it stuck to the top. Satisfied, he sat down and leaned his elbows on the table and regarded his companion carefully.

Can you be sure that what’s her name will get my note today? asked Tom.

Yes, certain was the calm reply.

How?

I’ve already got it. Now I’ve only got to read it was the reply.

Thinking quickly Tom rapidly asked Are you, err, Doc. Thordot?

No, Thorsteinsdottir, actually. It’s an Icelandic patronym. It means Thorsteins’ daughter. In Iceland, we generally ignore the patronym and call each other by our given name. Mine’s Freyja. What’s yours?

Thomas, but everybody calls me Tom

So I will, Tom.

Sorry, but I’m having a problem. I imagined you as being older and, well, more formal. What I now see is more someone my own age and dressing like it, too

This is me in my normal working clothes. I’m not a fashionista.

Now feeling somewhat intimidated, Tom just grunted and concentrated on his coffee.

Don’t sulk. Tell me your problems that is why you came to find me, after all Freyja said.

About work Tom was never tongue tied, indeed he was so driven that he had driven away many would be girl-friends. At the end of his recitation, Freyja simply looked at him, then into her cup and said To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, this is a three cup problem! So I’ll get us another one whilst I think more about your problems

On hearing the word ‘problem’ Toms’ heart sank. He had expected a quick fix, a rapid identification of some crucial bit of information that he was missing. A problem sounded much larger, more, well, problematical to Tom.

I can help, but it needs some thought. Do you have a mobile number that I can call you on when I’ve thought things through? Freyjas’ comment didn’t do much to lift Toms’ air of despondency. He had thought that he was at least on the correct track. Now, doubt crept in.

As they left the coffee bar, Tom picked up his ‘bike to cycle back to college. Freyja walked off, resolutely, in the opposite direction. Only two courses of action seemed available now to Tom; the first to go back to his college rooms and work through his problem right from the start and try to spot the flaw, or to go back to the college bar and seek inspiration at the bottom of a beer mug. He decided on the bar option as being more pleasant. It didn’t work completely!

Falling back on his old theory of ‘if in doubt, work!’ Tom walked into the Cavendish with only a vague plan of action. He was earlier than his usual time, only Henry was there to greet him, doing a long spinal stretch before finding somewhere warmer to sleep. Feeling oddly unsettled by the problems with his quantum mechanics work, Tom rejected work at his bench for literature searching in the University library. As he moved away, he mentally checked off all his requirements, the first of which was the cycle lock. Tom had been caught short once before when his bike was stolen from the library bike racks forcing him to walk back to college. Satisfied that all requirements were in place, he headed out down the Backs to the high brown brick tower that is the university library.

Tom broke off his studies after two mind-numbing hours to eat in the little coffee bar on floor two. He had just sat down with his lunch tray (macaroni cheese and salad and a bottle of sparkling water) when his mobile phone rang. No-one seemed to be disturbed, but Tom pulled out the phone, didn’t recognize the number, then ducked low to the table and answered it very quietly. He was surprised when Freyja answered, after that surprize, the conversation became mainly a one way interaction, his only contribution being the odd grunt of affirmation. Eventually he answered a direct question with High speed and All day, better at night. He listened once more, grunted twice then closed the connection with room 12. As he sat up no-one had taken any notice of his behaviour, but his macaroni cheese had cooled somewhat. Having efficiently disposed of his now cold lunch, he returned to his book pile, restarting seamlessly where he has left off less than an hour earlier.

As a result of the ‘phone call, he now knew where to direct his reading to best advantage, so he rapidly re-read the indices and identified more useful topics. Another couple of hours study brought Tom to mental halt, his head whirled with signs and symbols. It was time to finish and go home and hope his subconscious could assimilate and order all this fresh information. Riding back to college brought him out into the fresh air and a limited revival of his spirits. Back in his rooms, he dumped his bag, made a cup of tea and attacked his last packet of bourbon biscuits, flopping at ease in his big armchair.

Dinner consisted of a pizza delivered from the nearest shop and afterwards he logged on and read the news stories of the day, his daily dose of light reading. His mind was still abuzz with all he’d read in the library that day, so he was deciding just how to relax when there was a knock on his door. Rather begrudgingly, he pulled himself to his feet and opened the door, ready to decline any invitation to go to the bar. Standing at the door was this slim, pale, short haired blond that he thought he recognized. Before he could say or do anything further, those brilliant blue eyes suddenly latched onto his. Freyja, he exclaimed in a surprised tone and then added Do, please, come in.

Take this as a late tutorial session she said. Dumbfounded, Tom moved to one side and let her in.

I read around the topics you talked about today stuttered Tom.

And? Freyja asked.

And just more confusion at the moment! he replied.

Why? Yours is a simple problem when you break it down.

Tom simply groaned and shook his head. Freyja went to his computer, rapidly clicked some keys and waited until the screen filled with lines of text and numbers.

Come here and read this he was instructed.

Tom sat in front of the screen and just stared at the words and figures.

Don’t you see? Freyja asked him.

Nonplussed, Tom had to admit that what was on the screen was unlike anything he had seen that day.

This is my simplification of all those equations that you’ve been reading explained Freyja.

Too much for me this time of night, I’m afraid! Tom answered sadly.

Don’t worry; I’ll explain it all to you.

Tom felt his heart sink. ‘More of THIS!’ he could hear himself thinking glumly. ‘And after the day I’ve had in the library’. Instead, he said I’m tired at the moment, I’ve had a rough day, can we do this another day?

What, you don’t want to do QUANTUM MECHANICS? I find it totally exciting! answered Freyja.

Sorry, but I’m mentally exhausted after today he replied feeling somewhat sheepish by admitting it to her.

Oh, I thought that I had someone who was interested in my work at last. Freyja sounded dejected and, quite frankly, sad.

Tom was not too tired to respond to the tone of her voice. You have he lied smoothly It’s just that I’m tired and disappointed tonight.

Not in my work, I hope! answered Freyja sharply.

No, the fact that I can’t see it at the moment Tom responded smoothly.

We can do it another day, then. She replied somewhat mollified. Can we talk a little instead?

Tell me about Iceland, please.

I met your Professor of Icelandic. He speaks no modern Icelandic, just the language of our myths and legends. Old Icelandic, ancient Icelandic, I could hardly understand him. So there is no-one I can talk with. I just thought you…..

I need all the help I can get with the quantum mechanics side of my work that much I know now! At least you’re prepared to help me at my pace, so perhaps we need each other.

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Tom stuttered out an apology. That sounds like a bad pick-up line, it’s not what I meant at all!

Accepted, but we can still help each other can’t we? Freyja said turning her blue laser eyes on him.

Seems we almost must, I certainly need your help Tom commented and you also seem in need of a friend!

That point accepted by them both, they relaxed and chatted easily to each other. In a fit of conscience Tom made more tea and salvaged the last of his packet of bourbon biscuits which he gallantly offered to Freyja. Over tea and biscuits (How very British she commented) both relaxed and time fled by on oiled wings. Suddenly, outside, a clock chimed midnight. Freyja pulled out her mobile to check the time and made to leave whereupon Tom asked her how she was getting home, only to be told that she would walk. At that comment Tom told her it could dangerous at this time of the night and that young women had been attacked. He suggested ringing a taxi. She wouldn’t hear of it, saying that she’d be O.K. and started, as if to leave by herself. Tom