NUCLEAR PROCESSES IN HYDROGEN-LOADED METALS

Miley et al. and, independently, Mizuno et al. claim to have observed nuclides produced in Ni (Z = 28) when an electrolytic light-water cell is used. Miley et al. use thin layers of Ni (less than or equal to 5 X 10(-6) cm) and claim that the effect is reproducible. The secondary nuclides are distributed in a wide range of Z and A and show nuclides with Z < 28 and accumulations at Z = 48 and 78. If the nuclides at Z = 48 and 78 are Ni-Ni fusion, they can be produced only when the origin al Ni nuclei gain sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the Ni-Ni repu lsive Coulomb barrier. The foregoing data are discussed in terms of cu rrent physics. In particular it is assumed that the gain of kinetic en ergy derives from an impulsive increase of absolute nuclear binding en ergies of Ni due to a high rate of capture of orbital electrons and co nsequent almost instantaneous multiple p --> n transitions. Under this hypothesis, neutrino emission should be detected during nuclear trans mutation.