Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a tabletop accelerator that produces nuclear fusion at room temperature, providing confirmation of an earlier experiment conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), while offering substantial improvements over the original design. The device, which uses two opposing crystals to generate a powerful electric field, could potentially lead to a portable, battery-operated neutron generator for a variety of applications, from non-destructive testing to detecting explosives and scanning luggage at airports. The new results are described in the Feb. 10 issue of Physical Review Letters. “Our study shows that ‘crystal fusion’ is a mature technology with considerable commercial potential,” says Yaron Danon, associate professor of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering at Rensselaer. “This new device is simpler and less expensive than the previous version, and it has the potential to produce even more neutrons.” The device is essentially a tabletop particle accelerator. At its heart are two opposing “pyroelectric” crystals that create a strong electric field when heated or cooled. The device is filled with deuterium gas — a more massive cousin of hydrogen with an extra neutron in its nucleus. The electric field rips electrons from the gas, creating deuterium ions and accelerating them into a deuterium target on one of the crystals.

When the particles smash into the target, neutrons are emitted, which is the telltale sign that nuclear fusion has occurred, according to Danon. A research team led by Seth Putterman, professor of physics at UCLA, reported on a similar apparatus in 2005, but two important features distinguish the new device: “Our device uses two crystals instead of one, which doubles the acceleration potential,” says Jeffrey Geuther, a graduate student in nuclear engineering at Rensselaer and lead author of the paper. “And our setup does not require cooling the crystals to cryogenic temperatures — an important step that reduces both the complexity and the cost of the equipment.”

View: Full Article | Source: Physorg

Room temperature fusion... Hmmm... COLD FUSION!!

I never doubted it was possible once, it just goes to show how assuptions of non-existance are usually WRONG!

Isnt deuterium gas poisonous?

I think so... it is contained.

I want mine named and looking like the Flux Capacitor from Back to The Future.

Deuterium (D or 2H) is simply an isotope of hydrogen (H), (normally an electron with one proton in the nucleus.) with an added neutron. Water made up of two deuterium and one oxygen atom is called "heavy water." Heavy water is about 10% heavier than regular water and is valuable in nuclear reactions because it provides an abundant supply of neutrons for those reactions.

All water contains a tiny amount of heavy water. It is processed to concentrate the heavy water.

Deuterium is no different to the casual observer than regular hydrogen. Other than being extremely flammable and not breathable it is not considered toxic.
Tritium (T or 3H) is an isotope of hydrogen with two neutrons in the nucleus. The Moon is an excellent source of 3H and it is one great reason to go back there.

oh yah... I remember now! sweet, thanks alot for that info!

NP
Eventually someone is gonna bark at you for quoting an entire post just above your reply.
How do I know?
Just ask the mods. I still have a red mark on my butt!

So I read the article, what does this mean ? What if you use more opposing “pyroelectric” crystals what do you think would happen ?

Amazing. I love reading stuff like this. Makes life seem less primitive.

I'm not much of a chemist which explains why at first when I read the word 'Deuterium' I thought of Star Trek Odd thing is, at a young age, I thought Star Trek was dumb and it was because I was completely ignorant. I started to enjoy the space fighting really -- gotta love the action. (Yes this is sort of off-topic)