Carbon-14, questions on how it is created

  • Thread starter Thread starter radagast
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Carbon-14 is formed from nitrogen through neutron capture, requiring specific energy levels, which some claim to be around 15 MeV. There is skepticism regarding the assertion that such neutrons are not produced by nuclear explosions or the Sun, suggesting instead that they originate from supernovas and survive due to relativistic time dilation. The discussion highlights the need for clarity on the sources and mechanisms of Carbon-14 formation, particularly in relation to cosmic rays. The energy levels involved in these processes are relatively low compared to other cosmic phenomena. Understanding these details is crucial for validating or dismissing the claims about Carbon-14's origins.
radagast
Messages
483
Reaction score
1
This didn't work in 'How stuff works' so I'll try it here.

Some time back a friend (PhD Nuclear Engineer), told me that the energies a neutron needed to form C14 from nitrogen were (and this is where my memory gets real fuzzy) around 15 MEV. Furthermore that neither nuclear explosions or the Sun produced neutrons of this energy. The implications were they were formed in supernovas and survived due to relativistic time dialation.

This just seems to tickle my BS meter, but having no knowledge of nuclear physics, to speak of, I'd rather hear some confirmation of this before I go accepting it as likely or dismissing it.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
15 MeV is tiny amount compared to some of the enegies of galatic cosmic rays.
 
I have recently been really interested in the derivation of Hamiltons Principle. On my research I found that with the term ##m \cdot \frac{d}{dt} (\frac{dr}{dt} \cdot \delta r) = 0## (1) one may derivate ##\delta \int (T - V) dt = 0## (2). The derivation itself I understood quiet good, but what I don't understand is where the equation (1) came from, because in my research it was just given and not derived from anywhere. Does anybody know where (1) comes from or why from it the...

Similar threads

Back
Top