SUSPICIONS that “bubble” fusion is too good to be true have been revived by Purdue University’s announcement on 10 May that it has opened a second investigation into the technique’s leading proponent.
In 2002, Rusi Taleyarkhan, then at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and now at Purdue, in West Lafayette, Indiana, claimed that bombarding a solvent with neutrons and sound waves can create bubbles that trigger nuclear fusion. The university began looking into allegations of misconduct against Taleyarkhan in March 2006 amid accusations that the supposed evidence for “sonofusion” was in fact caused by a radioactive isotope. On 7 February this year, Purdue absolved Taleyarkhan and his group of any misconduct (91av, 17 February, p 4).
“Earlier this year, Purdue absolved Taleyarkhan’s group of any misconduct”
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Last week’s announcement followed a request in March for documents relating to sonofusion from US congressman Brad Miller, chairman of the congressional subcommittee on oversight and investigations. Purdue says the new investigation was begun because of “additional allegations related to sonofusion” that surfaced since its exoneration of Taleyarkhan in February.
These allegations remain confidential. Joseph Bennett, Purdue’s vice-president of university affairs, says the second investigation is being kept private “because of the devastating impact any indication of misconduct can have on a researcher”.
Mark Frankel of the Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law programme of the American Association for the Advancement of Science says he fears the issue might become politicised. “In an ideal world I don’t think you want to conduct these investigations with a member of Congress looking over your shoulder.” Meanwhile, Purdue says it will be following Miller’s recommendation that its second investigational committee include an expert from outside the university.
