Features of solid-phase transformations initiated by mechanical shock

Abstract

The study is dedicated to the observation of nuclear transformations initiated by mechanical impact. There are numerous publications demonstrating the possibility of transmutation induced by mechanical impact. This paper explores the phenomena of copper and zinc transmutation. Previously, the conversion of zinc to copper, with a transition energy of 1352.13 KeV, was reported. In our work, we employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microanalysis to detect zinc particles emerging in copper foil after being impacted by a steel ball traveling at a speed of 780 m/s. The process of copper to zinc transmutation occurs under the influence of a steel ball with a kinetic impact energy of E = 3.53*10¹⁶ J/mol, corresponding to E = 3.658*10¹¹ eV/atom, which significantly exceeds the required transition energy. It was found that the deformation of the copper foil reduced its thickness by almost half, from 200 µm to 100 µm. using the INCA Penta FETx3 energy-dispersive analysis attachment, spherical zinc particles with a diameter of approximately 1 µm were identified in localized areas of the deformed copper foil. The kinetic energy is converted into transmutation energy through the adiabatic interaction between the rough surface points of the ball and the copper foil. The total kinetic energy transferred by the ball is 9,68549*10²⁰ eV.