NEUTRON MEASURE},fEYTS IN SEARCH OF COLD FUSION

We have cxmducted a iwarch for neutron emiosion fmm m)d fusion systems of the electrochemical type and, to a leeser extent, the high-pressure gag cell type. Using a high-efficiency well counter and an NE 213 scintillator, the experiments were czmducted on the earth's ~urfam and in a shielded ave approximately 50 ft under-g-round, After appmmimately 6.500 h of counting time, we have obtained no evidence for cold fusion prucesse.~ leading h neutron production. However, we have observed all three types of neutron data that have been presented as evidence for cold fusion: large positive fluctu.utiona in the neutron counting rate, weak peaks near 2.6 MeV in the neutron energy spwtrum, and bumts of up to 146 neutrons in W30-IJS intel vals. The data were obtained under circumotancm that clearly show our reeulta to be dab encounter as a par-t of the ")aturally oczuning neutron background, which io due primarily to cosmic raya, ThuE, observing these types of data does not, of itself, provide evidence for the existence of cold fusion prcnxwes. &-tifac~u in the data that were due to counter misbehavior were also observed to lead ta long-term "neutron bumts" whose time d wation varied from several hours to several days We conclude that any experimertu whicl~ attempt to observe neutron emission must include strong steps to ensure that the eqw-imenta dael adequately with both cosmic-ray processes and coutir misbehavior,