Does Fission rate increase with increasing temperature?

[jerich1000]

From the standpoint of temperature (not pressure), would components that could experience fission experience a higher fission rate toward the center of the Earth because of the higher temperature, or at ordinary room temperature conditions?

 

[mfb]

Temperature has no relevant effect on spontaneous decays, this includes fission.

 

[the_wolfman]

Temperature has no relevant effect on spontaneous decays, this includes fission.

Temperature influences neutron induced and proton induced fission rates via Doppler broadening. It does not affect spontaneous fission.

 

[mfb]

I would not expect significant amounts of neutron or proton induced fission in the core of earth.

 

[alphy]

The answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. While it is true that fission reactions do generally increase with increasing temperature, there are several factors that must be considered.

Firstly, fission reactions are highly dependent on the type of material undergoing fission. Some materials, such as uranium-235, have a higher fission rate at higher temperatures due to the increased likelihood of collisions between particles. However, other materials, such as plutonium-239, have a lower fission rate at higher temperatures due to the increase in neutron capture and reduced probability of fission.

Secondly, the temperature at which fission occurs is also dependent on the pressure of the environment. At high pressures, such as those found deep within the Earth's core, the temperature required for fission may be lower than at ordinary room temperature due to the compression of materials.

In terms of components experiencing fission, it is unlikely that any materials would experience fission at ordinary room temperature conditions. Fission reactions require extremely high temperatures and pressures, which are not present in typical room temperatures. Therefore, it is more likely that components would experience fission towards the center of the Earth where both temperature and pressure are significantly higher.

In conclusion, while fission reactions do generally increase with increasing temperature, the specific conditions of temperature and pressure must be taken into account when considering the fission rate of materials. It is also important to note that fission is not a phenomenon that occurs at ordinary room temperature conditions.