John Dash
Professor Emeritus of Physics

Office Phone: (503) 725 - 4222

Office Location: 8 Science Building 1

Email: dashj@pdx.edu

Research Interests

The recent discovery of superconductivity at temperatures up to 125 K has led to unprecedented worldwide research efforts to understand mechanisms and properties so that these materials can be utilized advantageously for energy conservation in applications such as electrical energy transmission and storage, transportation, and electronics. One family of these materials, containing Bi, Sr, Ca, Cu, and O, is very sensitive to the temperature of heating and the rate of cooling during processing. A wide range of properties is possible, depending on these parameters. This sensitivity to heating temperature and cooling rate suggested an investigation in the PSU ballistic compressor to determine the effects of rapid heating and cooling on the properties of these materials.

The PSU ballistic compressor is capable of producing gases at temperatures as high as 6000 K and pressures as high as 2000 atmospheres for about half a millisecond. The subsequent cooling rate of the hot, dense gases can be as high as 105 oC per second.

Measurements made on superconductor samples before and after exposure to hot, dense argon in the ballistic compressor have shown that this treatment increases the superconducting temperature and reduces the temperature range over which the transition to superconductivity occurs. Currently, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, and electron microscopy studies are underway to determine the changes in structure and composition which caused these improvements in properties.

In March 1989, Pons and Fleischmann claimed that they were able to produce nuclear fusion by electrolysis of heavy water with a palladium cathode. Their main evidence for this claim was the production of excess heat which could not be explained by any known chemical process. In may 1989, the American Physical Society after examining evidence from major laboratories, concluded that no excess heat is produced in the Pons and Fleischmann experiment. however, in 1994, after careful evaluation of the 1989 data used for the Physical Society conclusions, it was discovered that serious errors were made. these error invalidated the conclusions reached by the American Physical Society in 1989. [see J. Phys. Chem , 1994, 98: 1948-1952. ]

Our own research on the Pons and Fleischmann experiment has been fruitful. For example, surface crater were observed on the palladium cathode after a 12 minute experiment. During longer experiments, excess heat, localized melting, and localized concentrations of unexpected elements were observed.

Our studies are continuing. We currently are studying glow discharge, in which others have reported excess heat and evidence of nuclear ash.

Selected Publications

Enhancement of To of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O Superconductor by Rapid Heating and Cooling in a Ballistic Compressor, Q. Duan, J. Dash, M. Takeo, and J. Huang, J. Appl. Physics, 69, 4897 (15 April 1991)

Surface Morphology and Microcomposition of Palladium Cathodes After Electrolysis in Acidified Light and Heavy Water: Correlation with Excess Heat. Dash, J., Noble, G., and Diman, D. Trans Fusion Tech., 26:299 (1994)

Surface Topography of a Palladium Cathode after Electrolysis in Heavy Water. Silver, D. S., Dash, J., and Keefe, P. S. Fusion Tech., 24:423 (1993)

Electrolytic Codeposition of Metals and Nonmetallic Particles, J. Dash, U.S. Patent No. 4,666,568, May 19, 1987.

Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion, J. Dash and P. S. Keefe, U.S. Patent Application.