Understanding the Gamow Energy Equation

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SUMMARY

The Gamow energy equation, represented as E_G = (παZ_AZ_B)^2 2m_rc^2, incorporates the reduced mass (m_r) and the speed of light (c). In this context, Z_A and Z_B denote the atomic numbers of the nuclei involved, which correspond to the number of protons. For two protons, both Z_A and Z_B equal 1, confirming their identity as single protons. This clarification is essential for accurately calculating the Gamow energy in nuclear reactions.

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Hi,

Can someone clarify for me the terms used in the Gamow energy equation. I know mr = reduced mass, c= speed of light etc, but what is puzzling me are the terms Za and Zb.

I thought that these were the charges (I have been asked to find the Gamow energy of two protons). My answer booklet gives these values as 1 but I can't see where they get this from.

Any help would be most appreciated!
 
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Do you mean the following equation, which I got by Googling on "Gamow energy"?

E_G = \left( \pi \alpha Z_A Z_B \right)^2 2m_r c^2

If so, according to www-users.york.ac.uk/~cjb18/Teaching/StellarPhysics/StellarPhysics_Lecture14_2004.pdf[/URL], [itex]Z_A[/itex] and [itex]Z_B[/itex] are the numbers of protons in the two nuclei involved. Since in your case both A and B are single protons, clearly Z = 1 for both.
 
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Of course... Z is the value for the atomic number which is the number of protons in a nucleus... Sorry, missed that one! But thankyou... it was the equation I was looking at
 

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