Coulomb Potential Barrier: Is This Calc Right? What's fm?

In summary, the Coulomb Potential Barrier is a concept in physics that describes the potential energy barrier formed by the electric field between two particles with opposite charges. It is calculated using the Coulomb potential energy formula and can be compared with expected values for accuracy. "fm" stands for femtometer, a unit of length used in nuclear physics. The Coulomb Potential Barrier is related to nuclear fusion as it must be overcome for fusion to occur, requiring a significant amount of energy.
  • #1
chemart
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The Coulomb potential barrier of a system of two nuclei X and Y is approximately given by VC = ZX*ZY*e2/RN where ZX and ZY are the charge numbers of the nuclei, e2 = 1.44 MeV*fm, RN = (AX1/3+AY1/3) × r0 is the sum of the nuclear radii. r0 is a constant usually estimated to 1.2 to 1.3 fm and AX and AY are the mass numbers of the nuclei. Is this right calculation? What does fm stands for?
 
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  • #2
It looks rlight. fm stands for femtometer (10^-15 meter).
The AX1/3 sands for AX to the one third power.
 
  • #3


Based on the provided formula, the calculation for the Coulomb potential barrier appears to be correct. FM stands for femtometer, which is a unit of length equal to 10^-15 meters. In this context, it represents the distance between the two nuclei in the system. It is important to note that this formula is an approximation and may not accurately reflect the true Coulomb potential barrier in all cases. Further research and experiments may be necessary to confirm the accuracy of this calculation.
 

1. What is the Coulomb Potential Barrier?

The Coulomb Potential Barrier is a concept in physics that describes the potential energy barrier formed by the electric field between two particles with opposite charges. This barrier can prevent the particles from approaching each other or can cause them to repel each other.

2. How is the Coulomb Potential Barrier calculated?

The Coulomb Potential Barrier is calculated using the Coulomb potential energy formula, which is given by: PE = kq1q2/r, where k is the Coulomb constant, q1 and q2 are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.

3. Is my calculation of the Coulomb Potential Barrier correct?

To ensure the accuracy of your calculation, you can compare it with the expected value of the Coulomb Potential Barrier for your specific system. You can also double-check your calculations and make sure you have used the correct values for the charges and distance.

4. What does "fm" mean in relation to the Coulomb Potential Barrier?

"fm" stands for femtometer, which is a unit of length commonly used in nuclear physics. It is equal to 10^-15 meters and is used to measure distances between subatomic particles, such as protons and neutrons.

5. How is the Coulomb Potential Barrier related to nuclear fusion?

In nuclear fusion, two positively charged nuclei must overcome the Coulomb Potential Barrier to fuse together and form a larger, more stable nucleus. This requires a tremendous amount of energy, which is why nuclear fusion is difficult to achieve and is a topic of ongoing research for potential energy sources.

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