Low Energy Neutron Production by Inverse-beta decay in Metallic Hydride Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper critically evaluates the proposed high-rate inverse-beta transmutations at metallic hydride surfaces, providing calculations that suggest such effects are unlikely to be significant.

Contribution

It offers a quantitative analysis that challenges previous claims of high-rate inverse-beta transmutations in metallic hydride surfaces.

Findings

Calculated transmutation rates are too low for significant effects.

The proposed high-rate transmutation effect is unlikely under realistic conditions.

Provides a theoretical framework to assess inverse-beta processes in metallic hydrides.

Abstract

It has been recently argued that inverse-beta nuclear transmutations might occur at an impressively high rate in a thin layer at the metallic hydride surface under specific conditions. In this note we present a calculation of the transmutation rate which shows that there is little room for such a remarkable effect.