Review of Hagelstein’s Theoretical Models
In the last few years, New Energy Times has focused a lot of attention on the Widom-Larsen theory of low-energy nuclear reactions. In fact, there are at least 66 recognized theories of LENRs.
We have decided to look closely at the ideas of another theorist, Peter Hagelstein, an associate professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Peter Hagelstein - Photo courtesy Cold Fusion Magazine/John F. Cook
Hagelstein began his work in response to the March 23, 1989, announcement by electrochemists Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann at the University of Utah. Pons and Fleischmann who claimed that they had made nuclear fusion in a tabletop experiment, to which news media applied the term “cold fusion.”
Within days, Hagelstein began working on a theory to explain “cold fusion.”
On April 12, 1989, according to the New York Times, MIT applied for “cold fusion” patents based on Hagelstein’s work. The Times reported that Hagelstein also submitted to scientific journals four papers outlining his theory.
By 2005, Hagelstein had made more than 150 attempts at a theory.
On Oct. 11, 2011, SRI International electrochemist Michael McKubre spoke at SRI’s Cafe Scientifique. McKubre discussed many low-energy nuclear reaction topics, including theory.
“The problem is that there are 500 theories,” he said, “all of them mutually contradictory, but the best theory that I’m aware of is my friend Peter Hagelstein’s at MIT.”
Prompted by McKubre’s confidence in Hagelstein’s ideas, New Energy Times has begun to review Hagelstein’s theoretical ideas and his progress.
Yesterday, New Energy Times sent an e-mail to McKubre and asked him why he thought Hagelstein’s “theory” is the best. McKubre did not respond.
In the past few months, New Energy Times has obtained copies of every theory paper Hagelstein has presented in the International Conference on Cold Fusion series. Hagelstein did not present a paper at the most recent (ICCF-16) conference.
In the past few days, we attempted to contact Hagelstein several times by e-mail and phone. He did not respond.
Readers may wish to begin learning about Hagelstein’s theoretical ideas from our Hagelstein Theory Portal.
To be continued.
