Coulomb barrier
An energy barrier resulting from electrostatic interaction that two nuclei
must overcome in order that they can approach closely enough to undergo
nuclear fusion. The Coulomb barrier is produced
by electrostatic potential energy. In
the fusion of light elements to form heavier ones the positively charged
nuclei must be forced close enough together to cause them to fuse into a
single heavier nucleus. The force between nuclei is repulsive until a very
small distance separates them, and then it rapidly becomes very attractive.
Therefore, in order to surmount the Coulomb barrier and bring the nuclei
close together where the strong attractive forces operate, the kinetic
energy of the particles must be as high as the top of the Coulomb barrier.
This requires extremely high temperatures, if temperature alone is considered
in the process. In the case of the proton-proton
chain in stars, this barrier is penetrated by quantum
tunneling, allowing the process to proceed at lower temperatures.
Related category
• ATOMIC
AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
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