What is a possible conventional interpretation of <PERSON> puzzling Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectrum?
In searching for a conventional interpretation, <PERSON> of Delft Technical University is stumped by an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectrum (aka Electron Spin Resonance spectrum) in "Distinguishing electron paramagnetic resonance signature of molecular hydrino":
A sharp, complex, multi-line EPR spectrum is found, whose detailed properties prove to be semi-quantitatively consistent with predictions20 from hydrino theory with an average error less than 0.09 G (0.2%) over a 39 G span of 37 lines. We have sought but failed to find reasonable alternative, ‘conventional’ interpretations for the detected paramagnetism.
Figure 2. EPR of postulated molecular hydrino H2(1/4) caged in solid Ga(O)OH polymer. Trace a: wide-scan overview spectrum showing a single feature only close to the free electron g value. Trace b: zoom-in of the single feature in trace a shows two main lines of equal intensity, separated by circa 4 Gauss, and whose center is distinctly shifted from the free electron value to g = 2.0045. Trace c: further zoom-in on one of the lines now recorded with a very small modulation amplitude reveals a fine structure of multiple lines with apparent peak-to-peak derivative line width of 0.17 Gauss and separated by circa 0.32 Gauss. Trace d: extensively averaged spectrum taken under conditions optimized for maximal signal-to-noise ratio at the expense of minor over-modulation and power saturation, exhibits a complex pattern of triplet satellite lines. Data collection times for traces a-d were 10, 16, 375, and 2400 min, respectively. All spectra were taken at ambient temperature. Trace e is a simulation using field positions predicted by hydrino theory. 1020
Other experimental conditions and simulation parameters are given in the METHODS section.
He provides the most plausible conventional interpretation:
Alternative interpretation. Alternative to the hydrino analysis in Fig 2e the spectrum in Fig 2d can also be approximately reproduced under a conventional phenomenological spin Hamiltonian assuming an unusual combination of two isotropic radicals of unequal intensity each with a g value of 2.0046. This model would require the two main lines to be due to an isotropic S = 1/2 system split by an I= 1/2 nucleus with $A_{iso}\approx$ 3.9 Gauss with additional hyperfine structure form a combination of some 5 nuclei the majority of which has also I = 1/2. A second S = 1/2 system should give rise to the satellite lines due to a different combination of some 5 nuclei, one of which should have I = 1 (e.g. $^{14}N$) to account for the repeating triplet pattern (see Extended Data Fig. 7 for a detailed analysis).
However, he rejects it:
We consider this alternative explanation of the EPR highly unlikely on the following grounds. The reaction mixture only contains H2, O2, H2O, and Ga. Even in the presence of trace contaminants of, e.g., C, N, we cannot envision how the high-temperature plasma reaction conditions and sample formation in strong aqueous base could lead to the formation of stable radical structures of considerable complexity. The ToF-SIMs, EDS, and XRD analyses also eliminate alternatives. Furthermore, since the sample is a solid, for complex radicals one would expect to see anisotropy in the spectra. In particular absorption-shaped peaks that come with axial or rhombic symmetry of the spin Hamiltonian are not observed. 362