NANO-SCALE FRACTURE PHENOMENA AND TERAHERTZ PRESSURE WAVES AS THE FUNDAMENTAL REASONS FOR GEOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION

摘要

TeraHertz pressure waves are produced in solids and fluids by mechanical instabilities at the nano-scale (fracture, turbulence, buckling). They present a frequency that is close to the reso-nance frequency of the atomic lattices and an energy that is close to that of thermal neutrons. A series of fracture experiments on natural rocks has recently demonstrated that the TeraHertz vibrations are able to induce fission reactions on medium weight elements with neutron and/or alpha particle emissions. The same phenomenon appears to have occurred in several different situations and to explain puzzles related to the history of our planet, like the ocean formation or the primordial carbon pollution, as well as scientific mysteries, like the so-called "cold nuclear fusion" or the correct radio-carbon dating of organic materials. Very important applications to earthquake precursors, climate change, energy production, and cell biology can not be excluded.