Is Fusion possible at the accretion disk of a Black Hole?

AI Thread Summary
Fusion is theoretically possible in the energetic environment of an accretion disk around a black hole, as the gas can reach high temperatures. However, the extreme tidal forces near a black hole complicate the conditions necessary for fusion, making it unlikely. Current research suggests that nucleosynthesis may occur in specific scenarios, such as around gamma-ray bursters or in active galactic nuclei. The discussion highlights the need for further calculations to understand the fusion process in these regions. Overall, while fusion could occur, the dynamics of black holes present significant challenges.
Qentanglement
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So if we have a supermassive black hole or a regular black hole with gas swirling around it. Can this gas get hot enough to fuse with other gas molecules around it? It seems like there would be enough energy to do this, maybe not. This question seems non-trivial and I think it needs some calculations. What is the answer to this question?
 
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And, to expand on the question, would this happen above or below the event horizon, and would fusions continue until you get Iron? Or, would there be excess energy to go more massive than Iron?
 
Fusion is not possible in the vicinity of a black hole. Tidal forces overwhelm gravitational attraction. Binary star systems do to not form is such close proximity.
 
Wait wait wait, I don't understand what you mean by tidal forces. There are no oceans involved. (jk) But really, what tidal forces are you talking about? Sure Binary star systems do not form near black holes, but that's not what I was asking.

I was asking, being more clear this time, "Is it possible for the fusion process to happen in the most energetic part of the accretion disk?" "Since the accretion disk is so energetic, shouldn't there be enough energy for say two hydrogen nuclei to fuse?"
 
Qentanglement said:
So if we have a supermassive black hole or a regular black hole with gas swirling around it. Can this gas get hot enough to fuse with other gas molecules around it? It seems like there would be enough energy to do this, maybe not. This question seems non-trivial and I think it needs some calculations. What is the answer to this question?

It appears to be possible

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987ApJ...313..674C
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000A&A...353.1029M

and it's a major topic of current research

http://www.lsw.uni-heidelberg.de/nic2010/talks/McLaughlin.pdf
 
Chronos said:
Fusion is not possible in the vicinity of a black hole. Tidal forces overwhelm gravitational attraction. Binary star systems do to not form is such close proximity.

I think you are thinking about stellar black holes. It's likely that there is some nucleosynthesis around gamma ray bursters or in active galactic nuclei.
 

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