Rusi Taleyarkhan
Encyclopedia
Rusi P. Taleyarkhan is a faculty member in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University
since 2003. Prior to that, he was on staff at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
. He obtained his Bachelor of Technology
degree in Mechanical Engineering
from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1977 and MS
and PhD
(Nuclear Engineering and Science) degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
in 1978 and 1982 respectively. He also holds an MBA (Business Administration) from RPI.
He was judged guilty of research misconduct for "falsification of the research record" by a Purdue review board in July, 2008.
vibrations, a process known as sonofusion or bubble fusion
. In theory, the vibrations collapsed gas bubbles in the solvent, heating them to temperatures high enough to fuse hydrogen atoms and release energy. Following his move from Oak Ridge to Purdue in 2003, Taleyarkhan published additional papers about his research in this area.
Numerous other scientists, however, were not able to replicate Taleyarkhan's work, including published articles in Phys. Rev. Lett. from the University of Gottingen, from UCLA, from University of Illinois, from former colleagues at Oak Ridge National Labs, and a study funded by the Office of Naval Research in the University of California.
Taleyarkhan's results were reportedly repeated by Edward Forringer of LeTourneau University
in Taleyarkhan's own labs at Purdue in November 2006,. Purdue decided at that time not to further investigate initial narrowly defined charges of misconduct against Taleyarkhan made by other members of the Purdue Faculty.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, however, has noted some problems with the verification. "During this time, Dr. Taleyarkhan says, two more scientists came into his laboratory and independently verified bubble fusion. Dr. Taleyarkhan contends that both were experts and did their work independently of him. But in interviews, both researchers contradict aspects of that account. One of those scientists, Edward R. Forringer, a professor of physics at LeTourneau University, in Texas, says he is certainly not an expert. Nonetheless, he says he is confident that his results do support the reality of bubble fusion." Forringer has not, however, published his purported confirmation in any refereed journal.
On May 10, 2007, Purdue announced that they would add at least one scientist without ties to the university to a new inquiry of Taleyarkhan and his work, at the insistence of a Congressional
panel investigating the use of federal funds in attempts to reproduce Taleyarkhan's results. The panel cited concerns that Taleyarkhan's claims of independent verification were "highly doubtful", and criticized Purdue for using three of the same members of an earlier inquiry committee in their recently completed review. Taleyarkhan called the report a "one-sided, grossly exaggerated write-up" but agreed to cooperate.
On September 10, 2007, Purdue reported that its internal committee had determined that "several matters merit further investigation" and that they were re-opening formal proceedings.
This board judged him guilty of "research misconduct" for "falsification of the research record" in July, 2008 and on August 27, 2008 his status as a member of the Purdue University Graduate Faculty was limited to that of 'Special Graduate Faculty.' He is permitted to serve on graduate committees, but will not be able to serve as a major professor or co-major professor for graduate students for a period of 3 years.
He is debarred for 28 months, until September 2011, from receiving U.S. Federal Funding, due to legal actions taken by the Office of Naval Research, which previously funded some of his research. Taleyarkhan received in September 2008 a $185,000 grant from the National Science Foundation
to investigate bubble fusion in spite of misconduct investigations, so the ONR added in 2009 his name to the 'Excluded Parties List' to prevent further grants.
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
since 2003. Prior to that, he was on staff at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville...
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
. He obtained his Bachelor of Technology
Bachelor of Technology
The Bachelor of Technology is an undergraduate academic degree conferred after completion of a three or four year program of studies at an accredited university or accredited university-level institution...
degree in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1977 and MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(Nuclear Engineering and Science) degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
in 1978 and 1982 respectively. He also holds an MBA (Business Administration) from RPI.
He was judged guilty of research misconduct for "falsification of the research record" by a Purdue review board in July, 2008.
Sonofusion work and controversy
In 2002, while a senior scientist at ORNL, Taleyarkhan published a paper on fusion achieved by bombarding a container of liquid solvent with strong ultrasonicUltrasound
Ultrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is thus not separated from "normal" sound based on differences in physical properties, only the fact that humans cannot hear it. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is...
vibrations, a process known as sonofusion or bubble fusion
Bubble fusion
Bubble fusion, also known as sonofusion, is the non-technical name for a nuclear fusion reaction hypothesized to occur during a high-pressure version of sonoluminescence, an extreme form of acoustic cavitation...
. In theory, the vibrations collapsed gas bubbles in the solvent, heating them to temperatures high enough to fuse hydrogen atoms and release energy. Following his move from Oak Ridge to Purdue in 2003, Taleyarkhan published additional papers about his research in this area.
Numerous other scientists, however, were not able to replicate Taleyarkhan's work, including published articles in Phys. Rev. Lett. from the University of Gottingen, from UCLA, from University of Illinois, from former colleagues at Oak Ridge National Labs, and a study funded by the Office of Naval Research in the University of California.
Taleyarkhan's results were reportedly repeated by Edward Forringer of LeTourneau University
LeTourneau University
LeTourneau University is a private, interdenominational Christian university located in Longview, Texas, United States with flagship programs in engineering, aeronautical science, business and education...
in Taleyarkhan's own labs at Purdue in November 2006,. Purdue decided at that time not to further investigate initial narrowly defined charges of misconduct against Taleyarkhan made by other members of the Purdue Faculty.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, however, has noted some problems with the verification. "During this time, Dr. Taleyarkhan says, two more scientists came into his laboratory and independently verified bubble fusion. Dr. Taleyarkhan contends that both were experts and did their work independently of him. But in interviews, both researchers contradict aspects of that account. One of those scientists, Edward R. Forringer, a professor of physics at LeTourneau University, in Texas, says he is certainly not an expert. Nonetheless, he says he is confident that his results do support the reality of bubble fusion." Forringer has not, however, published his purported confirmation in any refereed journal.
On May 10, 2007, Purdue announced that they would add at least one scientist without ties to the university to a new inquiry of Taleyarkhan and his work, at the insistence of a Congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
panel investigating the use of federal funds in attempts to reproduce Taleyarkhan's results. The panel cited concerns that Taleyarkhan's claims of independent verification were "highly doubtful", and criticized Purdue for using three of the same members of an earlier inquiry committee in their recently completed review. Taleyarkhan called the report a "one-sided, grossly exaggerated write-up" but agreed to cooperate.
On September 10, 2007, Purdue reported that its internal committee had determined that "several matters merit further investigation" and that they were re-opening formal proceedings.
This board judged him guilty of "research misconduct" for "falsification of the research record" in July, 2008 and on August 27, 2008 his status as a member of the Purdue University Graduate Faculty was limited to that of 'Special Graduate Faculty.' He is permitted to serve on graduate committees, but will not be able to serve as a major professor or co-major professor for graduate students for a period of 3 years.
He is debarred for 28 months, until September 2011, from receiving U.S. Federal Funding, due to legal actions taken by the Office of Naval Research, which previously funded some of his research. Taleyarkhan received in September 2008 a $185,000 grant from the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
to investigate bubble fusion in spite of misconduct investigations, so the ONR added in 2009 his name to the 'Excluded Parties List' to prevent further grants.