Thermal Energy Generation in the Earth — Nuclear Processes?

There was a very interesting post by Joseph Fine in the Journal of Nuclear Physics.

It links to an article  published in the journal Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics written by F. J. Mayer and J. R. Reitz titled
“Thermal energy generation in the earth” in which the authors suggest a new way of thinking about volcanic activity.

Abstract. We show that a recently introduced class of electromagnetic composite particles can explain some discrepancies in observations involving heat and helium released from the earth. Energy release during the formation of the composites and subsequent nuclear reactions involving the composites are described that can quantitatively account for the discrepancies and are expected to have implications in other areas of geophysics – for example, a new picture of heat production and volcanism in the earth is presented . . .

We will consider n to be a parameter; however, looking ahead to later numerical solutions, we will choose a value that gives the correct order of magnitude for the “excess heat” generated in so-called “cold fusion” experiments of Notoya (1993).

 

They also introduce a new physics called tresino physics.

“It is important to note that the tresino has a net negative charge and is quite small (roughly a factor of 10 smaller than the hydrogen atom). It should be clear that tresinos will behave like heavy, negatively charged “ions” having approximately the mass of the hydrogen nucleus; tresinos are electrostatically attracted to positive charges. Because they are three-body electromagnetic entities, assembled from a hydrogen nucleus and two electrons, tresinos are neither easily nor usually formed. Upon formation, they release their binding energy of Eb = 3.7 keV and are stable unless the binding energy is, in some way, re-supplied to make them disassemble; this is a substantial amount of energy on the scale of usual chemical reactions (less than a few eV).

The article has a few remarkable conclusions. The authors postulate three sources of thermal energy in the earth

1. Radioactive decay of uranium and thorium

2. Energy from the deuteron and proton tresono

3. Nuclear energy produced by deuteron-driven reactions.

If their hypotheses are correct, most of the heat produced within the earth is produced close to the earth’s surface by processes connected with surface waters, which could account for deeper thermal currents and affect the earth’s magnetic field. Also these heating processes could be connected with tectonic plate propulsion, volcanic eruptions and lightning.

Post submitted by ECW reader Marcus Haber