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[-] Eheran@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

The electron pressure is always there.

But you are right regarding the thermal energy making fusions easier, which can happen at any pressure or density with enough velocity. At this point I am not even sure which of the 2 approaches (cold and far denser or hot and far less dense) would be "easier", where we would have to first define what easier would actually be...

[-] mexicancartel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 19 hours ago

I am thinking, that when ionised, electron pressure only holds electrons away but does not prevent nuclear collisions because they are unbounded to electrons. But when not ionised, atoms are being pused together with electron repulsion holding back the nucleus.

I also doubt if the furnace is cold and high pressure, overcoming electron degeneracy pressure causes inverse beta decay and turns the thing into a neutron star? Then you wouldn't get new elements but a pile of neutrons?

In stars, nuclear reactions happen at high temperatures and pressure and at death stage of a massive star(becoming a neutron star), all the electron degeneracy pressure is overcame by gravity and the same inverse beta decay happens and protons and electrons combine to give massive pile of neutrons.

If you think of a bunch of solid atoms(low temp) put in high pressure, why would nucleus react anyway? Nucleus are bound by electrons and are not able to collide with other nucleus in that state. Electrons need to combine into the nucleus with high pressure. For the case of hot plasma, nucleus are able to move through the electrons and react. You don't need to overcome electron degeneracy pressure for that.

(I think i said things that i earlier said i'm not sure about, but this is a bit more thoughtful response while others were sent in a hurry mind)

[-] Eheran@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago

Electron repulsion is irrelevant compared to the energies needed for fusion. It only takes a few eV to throw electrons out orbit, since they are so far away from the nucleus. On the other hand, a nucleus itself would be attracted to these electrons equally much approaching them and passing them, resulting in a net 0 effect.

The electrostatic effect of the 2 positive nuclei repelling is WAY larger due to the extremely small distances needed for fusion.

this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025
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