Piezonuclear Neutrons From Brittle Fracture: Early Results of Mechanical Compression Tests1

Neutron emission measurements by means of helium-3 neutron detectors were performed on solid test specimens during crushing failure. The materials used were marble and granite, selected in that they present a different behaviour in compression failure (i.e. a different brittleness index) and a different iron content. All the test specimens were of the same size and shape. Neutron emissions from the granite test specimens were found to be of about one order of magnitude larger than the natural background level at the time of failure. These neutron emissions were caused by piezonuclear reactions that occurred in the granite, but did not occur in the marble. This is because of the fact that in granite the release rate of accumulated elastic energy Delta E exceeds the power threshold for the generation of piezonuclear reactions, W-strong = 7.69 x 10(11) W. Moreover, granite contains iron, which has been ascertained to be the most favourable element for the production of piezonuclear reactions when the nuclear interaction energy threshold, E-0,E-strong = 5.888 x 10(-8) J, is exceeded in deformed space-time conditions.