Our approach to developing a model is complicated. Since no energetic nuclear particles are emitted in amounts commensurate with the energy produced, we need to find a way to break up large nuclear quanta into a great many small condensed matter quanta. We propose working with nuclear molecules based on clusters, some states of which are reasonably long-lived. The density of nuclear molecule states is high at energy levels above about 40 MeV. So a way is needed to promote excitation to the nuclear molecule states. Earlier models were based on electric and magnetic dipole interaction. We found a new relativistic phonon-nuclear interaction, which is much stronger (but very limited in applications). In PdDx, D₂/⁴He transitions can provide the energy needed for cooperatively (Dicke) enhanced transitions that include promotion up to where the nuclear molecule density of states is high. In other systems it seems plausible that neutron transfer reactions (involve Bragg state neutrons) provide the energy needed for the promotion of excitation to where the nuclear molecule density of states is high. Very fast transitions between closely spaced nuclear molecule states convert the nuclear energy to plasmons and phonons, which then thermalize to produce heat. When the system is frustrated, the nuclear molecules can decay, resulting in fission-type transmutation products. Excitation transfer to unstable excited nuclear states results, in general, in low-level energetic nuclear emission. Excitation transfer of 4He, in particular, results in the (off-resonant) excitation to unstable 4He* states, which decay to produce low-level dd-fusion products.