Solid State-Nuclear Physics of Cold Fusion Phenomenon

First of all, it should be mentioned that the term "the Cold Fusion Phenomenon" (CFP) includes nuclear reactions and accompanying events occurring in solids with high densities of hydrogen isotopes (H and/or D) in ambient radiation. Investigation of the cold fusion phenomenon (CFP) during the past 14 years revealed that CFP occurs in localized regions at boundaries (and surfaces) in solids containing a high concentration of either deuterium or protium or both. The occurrence is characterized by sporadicity and only qualitative reproducibility. The former means unpredictability and the latter different effects for the same macroscopic initial conditions. Success of a phenomenological model (the TNCF model) assuming the existence of thermal neutrons in solids to explain CFP as a whole both in deuterium and protium systems suggests the existence of an unexplored field between nuclear physics and solid state physics related to neutrons in solids. Examining excited states of neutrons near the separation level of a nucleus and also excited states of protons (deuterons) in solids, we show the existence of new states of neutrons (the cf-matter) in transition-metal deuterides and hydrides, typical materials for CFP, which are responsible for exotic nuclear reactions in solids including CFP. An excited state of a neutron in a lattice nucleus (nucleus at each lattice point) interacts with another in adjacent lattice nuclei mediated by protons (deuterons) at interstices. The result is a corresponding neutron band. Neutrons in this band form a high-density neutron matter (cf-matter) at boundary/surface regions with neutron drops (clusters of neutrons and protons) that makes nuclear reactions in solids so different from those in free space.