Comment on ``The use of CR-39 in Pd D co-deposition experiments'' by P.A. Mosier-Boss, S. Szpak, F.E.

Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 44, 287–290 (2008) THE EUROPEANDOI: 10.1051/epjap:2008161PHYSICAL JOURNALAPPLIED PHYSICSComment on “The use of CR-39 in Pd/D co-depositionexperiments” by P.A. Mosier-Boss, S. Szpak, F.E. Gordonand L.P.G. ForsleyInterpreting SPAWAR-type dominant pitsaL. KowalskiMontclair State University, NJ 07055 Montclair, USAReceived: 4 June 2008 / Received in final form: 11 July 2008 / Accepted: 24 July 2008Published online: 6 December 2008 –c EDP SciencesAbstract. A recent claim [Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 40, 293 (2007)] demonstrating a nuclear processtriggered by electrolysis is challenged. An analysis, based on relative diameters, is used to demonstrate thatpredominant pits could not possibly be attributed to alpha particles, or to less massive nuclear projectiles.This conclusion is supported not only by positive results from a replication experiment, but also by resultsfrom the experiment on which the original claim was based. While the numerous SPAWAR-type pits seemto be highly reproducible, their interpretation is not yet clear.PACS. 29.30.Ep Charged-particle spectroscopy – 25.70.-z Low and intermediate energy heavy-ionreactions – 29.40.Wk Solid-state detectors – 81.15.Pq Electrodeposition, electroplating1Introduction able claim for granted, I will show that nuclear projec-tiles, if any, responsible for CR-39 pits, must be moremassive than alpha particles. That was the main conclu-Co-deposition experiments described in [1] were ...