Nuclear emissions during self-nucleated acoustic cavitation.

A unique, new stand-alone acoustic inertial confinement nuclear fusion test device was successfully tested. Experiments using four different liquid types were conducted in which bubbles were self-nucleated without the use of external neutrons. Four independent detection systems were used (i.e., a neutron track plastic detector to provide unambiguous visible records for fast neutrons, a detector, a NE-113-type liquid scintillation detector, and a NaI gamma ray detector). Statistically significant nuclear emissions were observed for deuterated benzene and acetone mixtures but not for heavy water. The measured neutron energy was <or=2.45 MeV, which is indicative of deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fusion. Neutron emission rates were in the range approximately 5x10(3) n/s to approximately 10(4) n/s and followed the inverse law dependence with distance. Control experiments did not result in statistically significant neutron or gamma ray emissions.