The search for cold nuclear fusion with track-etch and bubble damage detectors

In the present paper diagnostic methods based on utilization of track-etch and bubble damage detectors for the detection of cold fusion in condensed matter are surveyed. The advantages of track-etch and bubble damage detectors in comparison with other radiation detectors arise from their ability to: detect neutrons and charged particles; determine particle charge, energy, location and propagation direction; perform in-situ detection of fusion products inside condensed matter; carry out imaging and localization of the cold fusion sources; detect burst emission (no limitation by a finite response time) and integrate fluence during a long exposure time without an appreciable increase in the background. It was reported that the lowest detectable (D-D) fusion rate in condensed matter with CR-39 and BD-100 detectors is 10-25 fusion/D-D pair · s-1. Extension of this value down to 10-26 fusion/ D-D pair· s-1 seems to be feasible. (author)