Nuclear Abundances in Metallic Hydride Electrodes of Electrolytic Chemical Cells

Abstract

Low energy nuclear transmutations have been reported in experimental chemical electrolytic cells employing metallic hydride electrodes. Assuming that the nuclear transmutations are induced by ultra-low momentum neutron absorption, the expected chemical cell nuclear abundances are discussed on the basis of a neutron optical potential model. The theoretical results are in satisfactory agreement with available experimental chemical cell data. Some implications of these laboratory nuclear transmutations for r- s-process models of the neutron induced solar system and galactic nuclear abundance are briefly explored.