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submitted 4 days ago by fossilesque@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] mexicancartel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day 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 1 day 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.

[-] mexicancartel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 16 hours ago

What about the inverse beta decay thing? If electrons are also being compressed it should end up becoming neutrons right?

Electron repulsion might be irrelevant but being bound to electrons isn't. Electrons aren't being thrown out of the orbit here since its cold. It's getting squished into.

(I also disagree with the net zero claim, due to the sheilding effect of outer electrons, but still that too is irrelevant so np)

[-] Eheran@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

If there is enough pressure to make neutrons, we are well past making iron. They are pushed into the core regardless if they are bound to the classical orbits or in a plasma state, the latter at these pressures really does not mean anything anymore, the electrons can freely move in any case.

The + charge of the nucleus is accelerated to the electrons, so it first gets faster, then just as much slower again when it flies past them.