How does one find interaction radius for Coulomb barrier?

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eigenmax
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For a proton striking an atomic nucleus (in a Cockcroft-Walton accelerator, for example), the Coulomb barrier must be overcome. The calculation of the Coulomb barrier is U = k Z1Z2 e2 / r
r is interaction radius. How can I find that? For a proton to enter the atomic nucleus what would it be?
 
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It is simply the electrostatic potential for two electric charges at distance r. What is unclear?
r will typically be about the sum of the nuclear radii, there are formulas to estimate that.
 
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mfb said:
It is simply the electrostatic potential for two electric charges at distance r. What is unclear?
r will typically be about the sum of the nuclear radii, there are formulas to estimate that.
Ok, thank you! So it ought to be the radius of the proton + the target radius. Thank you!