Neutron and Gamma-Ray Emission from Palladium Deuteride Under Supercritical Conditions

Palladium is exposed to pressurized deuterium gas at 60 atm and 198 K and the temperature is cycled up to 593 K, beyond the critical point for palladium deuteride. Two neutron and gamma-ray counters, located near the pressurized vessel, show evidence of excess neutrons and gamma rays beyond the background level. Similar experiments with an empty cell or with a hydrogen-palladium cell show no excess in neutrons and gamma rays beyond the background levels. If the excess in neutrons is due to fusion, a corresponding fusion rate of 10⁻²¹ fusion /d-d·s can be estimated, which is comparable to the rate of 10⁻²³ reported by Jones et al. for electrochemically induced fusion.