Weak Interaction Neutron Production Rates in Fully Ionized Plasmas

Employing the weak interaction reaction wherein a heavy electron is captured by a proton to produce a neutron and a neutrino, the neutron production rate for neutral hydrogen gases and for fully ionized plasmas is computed. Using the Coulomb atomic bound state wave functions of a neutral hydrogen gas, our production rate results are in agreement with recent estimates by Maiani {\it et al}. Using Coulomb scattering state wave functions for the fully ionized plasma, we find a substantially enhanced neutron production rate. The scattering wave function should replace the bound state wave function for estimates of the enhanced neutron production rate on water plasma drenched cathodes of chemical cells.Comment: 2 pages no figure

Analysis of an attempt at detection of neutrons produced in a plasma discharge electrolytic cell

R. Faccini et al. \cite{Faccini:2013} have attempted a replication of an earlier experiment by D. Cirillo et al. \cite{Cirillo:2012} in which neutrons [as well as nuclear transmutations] were observed in a modified Mizuno cell. No neutron production is observed in the recent experiment \cite{Faccini:2013} and no evidence for microwave radiation or nuclear transmutations are reported. A careful analysis shows major technical differences in the two experiments and we explore the underlying reasons for the lack of any nuclear activity in the newer experiment.Comment: 3 page

Space-Like Motions of Quantum Zero Mass Neutrinos

Recent experimental reports of super-luminal velocity neutrinos moving between Geneva and Gran Sasso in no way contradict the special relativity considerations of conventional quantum field theory. A neutrino exchanged between Geneva and Gran Sasso is both virtual and space-like. The Lorentz invariant space-like distance $L$ and the Lorentz invariant space-like four momentum transfered $\varpi$ between Geneva and Gran Sasso can be extracted from experimental data as will be shown in this work.Comment: 4 pages 1 *.eps figur

Theories of Low Energy Nuclear Transmutations

Employing concrete examples from nuclear physics it is shown that low energy nuclear reactions can and have been induced by all of the four fundamental interactions (i) (stellar) gravitational, (ii) strong, (iii) electromagnetic and (iv) weak. Differences are highlighted through the great diversity in the rates and similarity through the nature of the nuclear reactions initiated by each.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure

Marcus Electron Transfer Reactions with Bulk Metallic Catalysis

Electron transfer organic reaction rates are considered employing the classic physical picture of Marcus wherein the heats of reaction are deposited as the energy of low frequency mechanical oscillations of reconfigured molecular positions. If such electron transfer chemical reaction events occur in the neighborhood of metallic plates, then electrodynamic interface fields must also be considered in addition to mechanical oscillations. Such electrodynamic interfacial electric fields in principle strongly effect the chemical reaction rates. The thermodynamic states of the metal are unchanged by the reaction which implies that metallic plates are purely catalytic chemical agents.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Photo-Disintegration of the Iron Nucleus in Fractured Magnetite Rocks with Magnetostriction

There has been considerable interest in recent experiments on iron nuclear disintegrations observed when rocks containing such nuclei are crushed and fractured. The resulting nuclear transmutations are particularly strong for the case of magnetite rocks, i.e. loadstones. We argue that the fission of the iron nucleus is a consequence of photo-disintegration. The electro-strong coupling between electromagnetic fields and nuclear giant dipole resonances are central for producing observed nuclear reactions. The large electron energies produced during the fracture of piezomagnetic rocks are closely analogous to the previously discussed case of the fracture of piezoelectric rocks. In both cases electro-weak interactions can produce neutrons and neutrinos from energetic protons and electrons thus inducing nuclear transmutations. The electro-strong condensed matter coupling discussed herein represents new many body collective nuclear photo-disintegration effects.Comment: 6 pages two figure

Theory of Metallic Work Functions Between Metals and Layers of Exclusion Zone Ordered Water

The magnitude of the work function to bring an electron from a metal into the exclusion zone water layer making hydrophilic contact with the metallic interface is theoretically computed. The agreement with recent experimental measurements is satisfactory

Horizon Thermodynamics and Gravitational Tension

We consider the thermodynamics of a horizon surface from the viewpoint of the vacuum tension $\tau =(c^4/4G )$. Numerically, $\tau \approx 3.026\times 10^{43}$ Newton. In order of magnitude, this is the tension that has been proposed for microscopic string models of gravity. However, after decades of hard work on string theory models of gravity, there is no firm scientific evidence that such models of gravity apply empirically. Our purpose is thereby to discuss the gravitational tension in terms of the conventional Einstein general theory of relativity that apparently does explain much and maybe all of presently known experimental gravity data. The central result is that matter on the horizon surface is bound by the entropy-area law by tension in the closely analogous sense that the Wilson action-area law also describes a surface confinement

An Argument for Nonminimal Higgs Coupling to Gravity

The coupling of gravity to a scalar field raises a number of interesting questions of principle since the usual minimal coupling obtained by replacing ordinary derivatives with covariant derivatives is not available -- they are the same operation on scalar fields. Conformal couplings in the Lagrangian proportional to $\phi^2 R$ have been suggested before, usually to maintain conformal invariance for massless scalar fields, but at the cost of breaking the equivalence principle. Here we give intuitive arguments for the appearance of such a term due to fluctuations of scalar particles about their classical world lines. Remarkably, these arguments give precisely a correction of the form required to maintain conformal invariance. We also show that such a term would naturally be expected for the Higgs field in the Standard Model, making a perhaps surprising connection between weak-scale physics and gravity. The nonminimal coupling, whether induced by quantum corrections or already present as a bare term, can be constrained from measurements of the Higgs width assuming the Higgs particle is to be detected

Electrostrong Nuclear Disintegration in Condensed Matter

Photo- and electro-disintegration techniques have been traditionally used for studying giant dipole resonances and through them nuclear structure. Over a long period, detailed theoretical models for the giant dipole resonances were proposed and low energy electron accelerators were constructed to perform experiments to test their veracity. More recently, through laser and "smart" material devices, electrons have been accelerated in condensed matter systems up to several tens of MeV. We discuss here the possibility of inducing electro-disintegration of nuclei through such devices. It involves a synthesis of electromagnetic and strong forces in condensed matter via giant dipole resonances to give an effective "electro-strong interaction" - a large coupling of electromagnetic and strong interactions in the tens of MeV range.Comment: 6 pages, no figure