Observation of nuclear transmutation reactions induced by D2 gas permeation through Pd complexes

We have been studying low-energy nuclear transmutations induced by D2 gas permeation through Pd complexes (Pd/CaO/Pd). We presented experimental results at ICCF9 and ICCF10. In this paper, we report recent progress. Transmutations of Ba into Sm were observed in two cases: with natural Ba on Pd complex samples (a definite result), and with mass 137-enriched Ba (probable). In these experiments, the atomic mass increase was 12 and atomic number increase was six. One of our experimental apparatuses was carried to SPring-8, which is the world's largest synchrotron radiation facility, located at Hyogo prefecture in Japan. Pr was confirmed several times by XRF at SPring-8. Some experiments were done to explore physical structure of the CaO layer. According to a D+ ion beam bombardment experiment performed at Tohoku University, the deuterium density of our Pd complex is one order larger than normal Pd. When we replaced CaO with MgO, we did not obtain any positive results. These results shed light on the role of the CaO layer in the Pd complex. (authors)