Neutronic measurements on electrolytic cells with deuterated palladium in a submarine environment

Using a high efficiency system for the neutron thermal detection and a pulsed electrolytic current procedure, measurements were made on cells containing Pd cathodes and electrolytes at a D2O and H2O base. The peculiarity of these experiments is that they were carried out on board of the A.R.A. Santa Cruz submarine, at a depth of 50m under sea level, attaining ultra deep-down conditions in the measurements, corresponding to a reduction in a factor = 50 in relation to lab conditions. The mean level of the signal -obtained from counting combination of deuterated cathodes- results to be separated from the deep-down level by four standard deviations. (Author)