I have to wonder if Max's "Neutron Detection" system could become confused by "Karabut-style" collimated X-Rays.
Although, conversely, that also makes me wonder whether past systems that were set up to detect "collimated X-ray" emissions could become confused by neutrons...
Hmmm 
Has been known for decades that TiD2 "compression" generates neutron showers. Max Fomitchev's paper is an entomological one - tiny things in tiny cages.
May not even need compression...
Evidence of Emission of Neutrons from a Titanium-Deuterium System
May 1989 EPL (Europhysics Letters)
Antonella De Ninno
Antonio Frattolillo
et al.
Without "BANG" no juice. And indeed last De Ninno papers are on homeopathic properties of water.
Probably some kind of excitations not well yet understood should induce neutrons removal from some nuclei.
Yes, cavitation isn't especially needed.
Display MoreMay not even need compression...
Evidence of Emission of Neutrons from a Titanium-Deuterium System
May 1989 EPL (Europhysics Letters)
Antonella De Ninno
Antonio Frattolillo
et al.
Small "Bangs": Fracto-emission from deuterated titanium
AN INVESTIGATIVE STUDY ON NEUTRON EMISSIONS FROM TITANIUM-
DEUTERIUM SYSTEM UNDER THERMAL SHOCK
A Dissertation
Presented to
the faculty of the Graduate School
University of Missouri - Columbia
by
Modeste Tchakoua Tchouaso
Dr. Mark A. Prelas, Dissertation Supervisor
DECEMBER 2017
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
The investigation of neutron detection from deuterium-titanium systems is important
because it can provide a viable neutron source for calibration of neutron detectors and
nondestructive analysis. The mechanism through which neutrons are produced in these
systems is not well understood and experimental results are often irreproducible. Neutrons
are postulated to be produced during the warm up phases of the titanium-deuterium system
due to non-equilibrium conditions resulting from change in temperature and pressure of the
system during absorption or desorption phases of deuterium in titanium. Another mechanism,
known as fracto-fusion mechanism has been proposed to explain the means through which
nuclear emissions results from condense matter. The fracto-fusion hypothesis suggests that a
nuclear effect occurs from fracture caused by mechanical stress in crystals lattice. Cracks
could result from internal pressure, or temperature variations, or both in solid matter. The
formation of cracks in crystals creates traps that can hold huge amount of deuterium within
the crystal structure of solids for titanium-deuterium interaction to occur leading to neutron
emissions. This work was geared at understanding the reason for the inconsistency in neutron
emissions from titanium-deuterium systems by investigating the roles of phase transitions,
crack formation, heat production, the ratio atoms of titanium with respect to deuterium, and
the surface treatment of titanium sample in neutron production. Three detectors were used in
this investigation: a moderated helium-3 detector, an unmoderated helium-3 detector and a
proton recoil detector. The detectors were calibrated using a Cf-252, and a PuBe source. The
investigation involved using dehydrided, -325 titanium mesh with diameter of 14 𝜇𝑚 loaded
with deuterium and subjecting the system to non-equilibrium conditions by repeatedly
placing in liquid nitrogen followed by rapid warm up phases. The results show that degassing
the system under high vacuum, while baking the system at high temperature, increases
deuterium absorption in titanium lattice. The degassing procedure prevents the formation of
oxide layers on the surface of titanium which inhibits deuterium absorption are easily
removed at high temperatures, ensuring that deuterium atoms are inserted in titanium lattice.
The presence of impurities in this system limits dehydriding. It is recommended that these
experiments be carried out under high vacuum conditions. The X-ray diffraction pattern
shows that titanium hydride is formed during deuterium loading. The loading of titanium with
deuterium in titanium leads to a phase change from 𝛼-titanium to 𝛿 −titanium at room
temperature but no noticeable neutron emission was observed during this phase change.
Phase changes in titanium crystal leads to modifications in the lattice structure of titanium
and increases its volume and size. The phase transition that occurs during titanium deuteride
formation is exothermic leading to the release of heat. A large temperature increase was
observed in two experiments during phase transition. The increase in temperature reduces the
diffusion time, thus increasing the probability of titanium-deuterium reaction occurring.
Cracks were observed in several titanium samples after loading with deuterium. Deuterium
absorption process occurred much more rapidly in samples where cracks were formed. The
cracks were also produced in certain locations in the sample and not in others. Hence, should
a neutrons emission occurred, the nuclear reaction will occur at this location. However,
neutrons burst was not observed in samples with large cracks. The observed neutrons
produced from titanium-deuterium system were very small and only single neutron burst
events were observed in an entire experiment. The occurrence of neutrons occurred in two of
the 9 experiments conducted. The samples were analyzed for tritium production using a
liquid scintillation detector, but tritium was not observed in any of the samples. There was
also no evidence of transmutation occurring in this samples. We hypothesized that the
titanium-deuterium reaction is a low probability process that is influence by crack formation.
The process is likely due to a statistical process that depends on sample microstructure,
number of defects, preparation condition and shocking procedure.
Tribo & fracto X-ray emission is well known.
Maybe X-rays can dissociate deuterons, releasing neutrons (which, if slow enough, can activate nearby atoms).
For instance:
Investigation of Deuterium Loaded Materials Subject to X-Ray Exposure
Theresa L. Benyo, et al. 2017.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20170002544/downloads/20170002544.pdf
