- #1
qraal
- 790
- 3
Hi All
Just wondering why does deuterium fused with itself not make helium-4 - instead it makes a triton or a helion and a proton or a neutron. These products could then fuse with deuterium to make helium-4.
What stops deuterium from fusing straight into alpha particles? Is the kinetic energy too high for it to stick together as a whole or is it driven by a more exotic process?
Just wondering why does deuterium fused with itself not make helium-4 - instead it makes a triton or a helion and a proton or a neutron. These products could then fuse with deuterium to make helium-4.
What stops deuterium from fusing straight into alpha particles? Is the kinetic energy too high for it to stick together as a whole or is it driven by a more exotic process?