Los Alamos scientist Dr. Thomas Claytor was awarded the Giuliano Preparata Medal June 8 in Piedmont, Italy. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
A Los Alamos scientist known for a modified cold fusion experiment in which he repeatedly got radioactive tritium produced in a low energy system, has been presented with the prestigious Giuliano Preparato Medal. Dr. Thomas Claytor, one of the first researchers to understand that low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) could be triggered outside an electrochemical cell and is primarily a near surface effect, received the medal June 8 at the 12th International Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen Loaded Metals in Castigliole d’Asti in Piedmont, Italy.
The award recognizes Claytor’s initiation and further development of effects related to hydrogen anomalies in solids. His wife, Debrah, traveled with him to Asti for the workshop, which was attended by scientists from France, Italy, England, Japan, Hungary and the United States.
The International Society for Condensed Matter Nuclear Science administers the Giuliano Preparata Medals and the Giuliano Preparata Award Committee decides who is going to receive them. Preparata was a renowned Italian physicist who taught at several American universities including Princeton, Harvard and New York University. From 1974 to 1980 he was a staff member in the theory division of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland.
Claytor obtained his Ph.D. in Solid-State Physics from Purdue University. He was a staff member at Argonne National Laboratory from 1977 to 1986 and at Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1986 to 2012 when he retired. He now owns and is the principal investigator for High Mesa Technology in White Rock.
Claytor has collaborated with investigators at other organizations to improve hydrogen isotope and neutron detection from solid state LENR cells. Since his retirement, he has maintained his connections to Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Guest Scientist.
While at LANL, in addition to on and off research into LENR funded by Laboratory Directed Research and Development, Director’s Reserve and technology transfer funds, Claytor worked on various instrument and materials projects. He developed the first large area a-Si neutron tomography system at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). This work eventually resulted in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Hi-Tek resulting in more than $20 million annually in sales for the company and royalties to LANL.
Prior to his retirement, Claytor received five patents, a Department of Energy Defense Program Award of Excellence, a LANL Distinguished Performance Award and two R&D 100 team awards He has mentored some 34 graduate and undergraduate students and sponsored Ph.D. research at three major universities. He received NASA and Siemens awards for excellence in and sustaining mentoring in 2003 and 2004.
The silver Giuliano Preparata Medal presented to Dr.Thomas Claytor at the International Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen Loaded Metals. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
The certificate presented to Dr.Thomas Claytor in Italy earlier this month. Courtesy photo
Dr. Thomas Claytor and his wife, Debrah in Asti, Italy. Courtesy photo
