Cold fusion?

Question

What is the problem with the cold fusion? Why didn't it work? What is needed to let fusion work?

Answer 1

The main problem with nuclear fussion is that you have to bring the nuclei of the atoms involved in the process very close to each other. This can only happen under special conditions, such as extreme tempratures where matter is tranformed into plasma (atoms release their nucleus and electrons) and pressures. Thats why nuclear fusion is so difficut to happen since it needs an energy source capable of rising temprature at about 1000000 C in order to begin nuclear reactions. Nuclear fusion reactors such as JET or ITER are able to do that with an extremely powerful electric current and a magnetic forcefield (other approaches are with superlasers such as NOVA), but they consume more power to begin the fusion than the power they release from it (it is claimed that the next generation of fusion reactors might be able to produce the same energy it consumes). The term cold fusion is quite misunderstood: it doesn't mean fusion in cold environment such as your room, but it means fusion that happens in relatively much lower tempratures than the 1 million C. However something like that is very difficult to happen and personally I don't beleive that it has happened or it will ever happen. Take nature for example: the only way nuclear fusion has "evolved" and works is on stars, like sun, at the extreme conditions described above.

Answer 2

The trouble with cold fusion, is that the idea is completely at odds with everything that is currently known about nuclear physics, both theoretical and practical.

In order for fusion (in the traditional sense) to occur, you have to overcome the tremendous repulsive force between two hydrogen nuclei. This should require temperatures and pressures so extreme, that they are only found at the center of the sun, or in the very first instants when a nuclear bomb explodes.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. So far, the evidence for cold fusion has,( far from being extraordinary,) been extremely sketchy and contradicting at best. Supporters of cold fusion have never been able to provide a satisfactory theoretical explanation, that would allow for cold fusion to occur. They have yet to provide a proven "recipe," that would allow any other competent scientist to duplicate their results *every time*. Cold fusion researchers belong to a pariah community, where objective peer review is nonexistent.

Dr. David Goodstein, of Caltech, wrote an excellent critique of "cold fusion" in 2002, which words it much better than I can; please read:
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~dg/fusion_art.html
(pardon the small text)

Hope that is informative,
~W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 3

Cold fusion has not been verified by repeating the original experiement. The onus is on the people who claim that there is cold fusion to explain why it DOES work.

Answer 4

Fusion is real...it's the process that fuels the sun and the stars. Cold fusion on the other hand is a farce.