Re: Teaching science on the edge of knowledge

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

On Friday, Jul 23, 2004, at 03:58 America/New_York, John Denker wrote:

> Way back at the beginning of this thread, Pamela Gay asked
> a two-part question:
>
> > How do we handle alternative theories and gaps in our understanding
> > of the universe?
>
> And mostly "alternative theories" is a codeword for crackpot
> theories ... but I would like to nudge the discussion toward
> the second part of the question:  . . .

The observation about , “a codeword for crackpot theories,” is likely
to be correct; especially when such theories are developed by obscure
people publishing in obscure journals. Credentials and professional
associations do not guarantee anything but they should be looked upon
very seriously when it comes to alternative theories, or earth-shaking
experimental data.

I believe that exposing crackpot theories is worthwhile exercise,
provided one is knowledgeable enough. In exploring the Internet I often
encounter claims that there is free energy from torsion fields. That
far above my head, as far as mathematics is concerned. Here is an
e-mail message I received on July 16 from a person I never met. It
illustrate the case. Unable to answer I would be happy to send him a
reply like this: “Unable to understand your theory I asked somebody
else to comment on it. That parson wrote: ...”  I will be happy to give
your name, if you prefer.
Ludwik Kowalski  What follows is the message I received, and the
content of the attached file.
============================================================

Dear Dr. Kowalski:
A model called "Vortex Dynamics" is proposed by us to give an
explanation for cold fusion. This model was mentioned by Thomas .
Dolan, IAEA Officer(1995-2001) for fusion in his speech as five
majoring models for CF mechanism, in the summary session at ICCF-9,
Tsinghua Univ. May,2002, Beijing. I would like to introduce this model
to you for your reference. Thank you for your attention, and awaiting
your comments.
   With best regards.

Prof. Xingliu Jiang, Physics Department of
Bejing University of Aeron. and Astron.
jiangxl@buaa.edu.cn

FROM THE FILE ATTACHED TO THE MESSAGE:

Journal of Theoretics
Volume 5-6, Dec 2003/Jan 2004

Torsion Field Effect and Zero-Point Energy in Electrical Discharge
Systems

Xiong-wei Wen wenxw@tsinghua.edu.cn
Mechanical Engineering Department, Tsinghua Univ. Beijing 100084, China
Xing-liu Jiang jiangxl@buaa.edu.cn
Science School, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics,
Beijing 100083, China
Li-jun Han
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing 100083,
China


I. INTRODUCTION
Many laboratories in world have observed nuclear reactions and excess
heat in electrochemical systems. The mechanism of such anomalous
phenomena is not being well understood according to normally accepted
physics. Nuclear products with high concentration and tracks with
highly collimated lines of low energy nuclear reactions in the
electrochemical systems were recorded by CR-39 solid detectors and
films at our laboratory [1,2]. These facts suggest that quasar model
with spiral structure and extremely high enrage cosmic rays in the
center could be used for explanation of the mechanism. It is supposed
to use the concept of torsion field to interpret the observed
phenomena, typically, the properties of axial acceleration, memory
effect, and the polarized nuclear reactions with torsion effect [3].

II. PHENOMENA IN NATURE AND AT LABORLATORIES
The vortex and spiral structures are the archetype that appears at all
levels of nature and laboratories, for example, atom structure, vortex
lattice in superconductors, dense plasma focus, lightning, quasar etc.
Recent report of dark matter annihilation at the galactic center
describes that the cold dark matter near the galactic center is
accreted by the central black hole into a dense spike [4]. Particle
dark matter annihilation makes the spike to be a compact source of
photons, electrons, positrons, protons, antiprotons, and neutrinos. It
remind us for that there is a similarity among pitting corrosion with
electrochemical noise, laboratory plasma pinching (dense plasma focus,
for example), fast laser induced ion beams[5],and quasar spiral model
with high-energy cosmic rays in spiral center in spite of large
dimension difference.

Comparing the experimental results of electrochemical cells with excess
heat and nuclear transmutation to astrophysics phenomena, it is
supposed that the investigation of vortex dynamics of torsion coherence
with the zero-point energy is essential for tapping the zeropoint
energy. As it is predicted by quantum mechanics that the vacuum is
seething with active energy, even at temperature of zero point Kelvin.
This zero-point energy (ZPE) can be thought as an infinite number of
virtual photons that popping out of the vacuum and going back in, but
should a measurable effect en masse. To exam the origin of ZPE
background, the interaction of matter with the ZPE can be treated on
the basis of charged point particles interaction with a background of
electromagnetic zero-point radiation with spectral-energy density.

Based on observation in the experiments, the following features are
considered in order to understand the experimental results with
electrical discharge systems.

A. ELECTROCHEMICAL DOUBLE LAYER
In an electrolytic cell, the electrolysis with high conductivity and
the electrochemical double layer with large layer-capacitance lead to a
typical structure of the cathode potential distribution similar to the
cathode drop of glow discharge in low gas pressure. For a compact layer
the thickness of the double layer is equal to one ionic layer, across
which there is a linear fall of potential. Thus, high electric field
exists in some regions on the surface of the cathode. The local
enhancement of the electric field on the cathode surface with the
double layer is related to the protrusions and cracks similar to the
tip discharge in air or in a vacuum. The current distribution depends
strongly on the surface roughness and the work function of the electron
emission. A high transient current density (> 10^8 A/cm^2) could be
expected due to enhanced field.

B. ENERGY CONCENTRATION
On the cathode surface, the high persistent electrical fields (>10^7
V/cm) and large equivalent capacitance (>250µF/cm^2) lead to a high
energy concentration in the double layer [6]. The concentrated field on
the tips of the protrusions or cracks after a longloading period with
deuterium on the palladium cathode surface creates a high transient
electron flux because of the large distributed capacitance and the
negligible inductance in a localized discharge mini-network. The
experimental data show that the reactions take place only in some
restricted areas that have specific properties. The idea of micro
fusion due to the results of energy concentration and the high deuteron
flux could be used to explain the nuclear transmutation.

C. TORSION FIELD AND THEIR EXPERIMENTAL MANIFESTATIONS
Elementary particles have the moment of quantity of motion, i.e. spin.
If in any substance the spins of particle have a preferable direction,
then is interpreted as spin polarization of the substance. Every
substance creates a torsion-field (or called spin-field or axion field)
in the space surrounding it when polarized by spins [7]. The
superposition of torsion field, generated by the atomic and nuclear
spins of each molecule, determines the intensity of torsion field in
the space surrounding each molecule. Torsion field has strong
penetration ability and does not interact with the crystal lattice of
substances. The torsion field created by rotation of some sort of
matter is concentrated in two opposite beams propagating along the
rotation axis. The intensity of torsion-field with some lower constant
value can be retained for several weeks after the rotation is stopped.
Such the property of vortex mater has been observed recently in type II
superconductors with magnetic flux line lattice [8]. The studies of
vortex matter of type II superconductors have shown a number puzzling
phenomena associated with vortex motion, including: lowfrequency noise
and slow voltage oscillations; a history-dependent dynamic response,
and memory of the direction, amplitude duration and frequency of the
previously applied current.

Some behaviors of the torsion-field effect have been observed in the
experiments of electrolysis regarding to so-called cold fusion, such as
the gas bubble chains come out from the protrusions of the cathode
surface for long time after switching off the electrolysis potential.
The more surprising thing is the heat after death, which has been
recorded by many labs. This phenomenon could be explained by the
persistence effect of torsion-field produced by vortex dynamics of tip
effect.

D. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS IN THE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL
CR-39 plastic films possessing with a high degree of optical clarity
and isotope in track response, and been sensitive to neutron, proton,
tritium, alpha, and other charged particles, were used to detect the
products of nuclear reactions. The films of CR-39 were immersed in the
NaOH electrolyte of heavy water and placed adjacent to the tips of the
cathode [9].  [The rest of this section is skipped. It contains figures
which are not at all convincing. L.K.]

E. SONOLUMINESCENCE AND “BUBBLE NUCLEAR FUSION”
Some scientists of Oak Ridge National Laboratory in America reported
their articles of bubbles experiments in Science. Experimental results
show that the radiation lights of sonoluminescence possess three
characters: short duration with picoseconds; wide continual spectrum;
highly oriented thin beams. Based on those characters, vortex dynamics
with axial acceleration of bubble collapse could be inferred.  [The
rest of this section is skipped. L.K.]

III. CONCLUSION
Researchers of new energy study of “cold fusion” type should pay great
attention to the general processes of electrolysis to find the key
points, which could play major role in the transit form the
electrochemical processes to processes of torsion and the nuclear
processes. From the authors’ point of view, the evolution of double
layers is of importance to understand the anomalous effect, typically
on the protrusions of cathode. The change of space-time near the tips
due to torsion field generated is expected to delivery the zero-point
energy, and dynamic Casimir effect for the evolution of gas bubbles on
the tips are expected to generate photons and excess heat [1].

The yields of transmutation products are related to the current
distribution on the cathode surface. The cathodes of thin wire were
benefit to the generation of nuclear reactions and excess heat for
electrochemical systems. Careful examination of the evolution of
electrochemical double layer will lead to a good understanding of
pitting corrosion with electrochemical noise, and further to recognize
the anomalous excess heat and nuclear reactions. Heat after death was
observed in many laboratories. It is believed that the persistence
behaviors of torsion field could be used to explain such anomalous
phenomena. The contact between beads coated with a thin metallic layer
or multilayered film and palladium black particles could be regarded as
point-contact similar to the tip-effect [13]. We may say that, it is
expected to reveal the puzzles of the mechanisms of high-Tc
superconductivity with pinning vortices by torsion field theory [14,15].

REFERECENCES
[1] Xing-liu Jiang, Jin-zhi Lei, Li-jun Han, Dynamic Casimir Effect in
an Electrochemical System, J. New Energy, Vol.3, No. 4, 47 (1999).
[2] Xing-liu Jiang, Chang-ye Chen, Li-jun Han, Tip Effect and Nuclear
Active Sites, Proc. of the 7th Intern. Conf. on Cold Fusion, Vancouver,
April, 1998, pp.175.
[3] Don Read, Excitation and Extraction of Vacuum Energy Via EM-Torsion
Field Coupling Theoretical Model, J. New Energy, Vol. 3, No. 2/3, p.130
(1998).
[4] P.Gondolo, J.Silk, Dark matter annihilation at galactic center,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 1719 (1999).
[5] BPS,Laser light in ,stream of protons out, Physics Today, Jan.2000,
p.9.
[6] G.Korluem and J.OM. Bookris, Textbook of Electrochemistry Vol. II.
Elsevier Publishing company Amstorsan , 1951, p.364
[7] A.E.Akimov, G.I.shipov, Torsion fields and their Experimental
Manifestations, Journal of New Energy, 2(2), 67(1999).
[8] Y.Paltiel, E.Zeldov Y.N.Myasoedov el. al. Dynamic instabilities and
memory effects in vortex matter, Nature 403, 398 (2000).
[9] X.L.Jiang, L.J.Han and W.Kang. Concentrated energy and Micro
Nuclear Fusion, ICCF6, Oct 1996, Japan p.580.
[10] R.L.Matlock, F.E.Collins, G.R.Bancher, Anomalous tritium found in
the recombined off gasses during electrolysis using crystal cathodes.
Elem. Energy(cold fusion), 26, 28(1998).
[11] Taleyarkhan R P, West C D, Cho J S, Lahey Jr R T, Nigmatulin R I,
Block R C. Evidence for Nuclear Emissions During Acoustic Cavitation,
Science, 2002 295: 1850-1862.
[12] Claudia Eberlein. Theory of quantum radiation observed as
sonoluminescence, Phy.Rev.Lett.53,2772(1996).
[13] G.H. Miley, G.Narne, M.J.Williams, J.A.Patterson, J.Nix,
D.Cravens, and H. Hora, Quantitative Observation of Transmutation
Products Occurring in Thin-Film Coated Microspheres During
Electrolysis, Proceedings of ICCF-6, OCT. 1996, Japan, p. 629.
[14] T. Matsuda, K. Harada, H. Kasai, O. Kamimura and A. Tomomura,
Observation of Dynamic Interaction of Vortices with Pinning by Lorentz
Microscopy, Science, 271, 1393(1996).
[15] G.W. Crabtree and D.R. Nelson, Vortex Physics in High Temperature
Superconductors, Physics Today, April 1997, p.32. Received March 16,
2003.