Attraction and Repulsion of Nucleons: Sources of Stellar Energy

Abstract

The potential energy of a nuclide is enhanced by about 10 MeV per nucleon from the repulsion between like nucleons, and diminished by about 20 MeV per nucleon from the attraction between unlike nucleons. Nuclear stability results mostly from the interplay of these opposing forces, plus Coulomb repulsion of positive charges. Whereas fusion may be the primary mechanism by which first generation stars produce energy, repulsion between like nucleons may cause neutron emission from the collapsed core (neutron star) produced in a terminal supernova explosion and initiate luminosity in second generation stars that accrete on such objects. As noted earlier [1], the scarcity of solar neutrinos, the enrichment of light isotopes in the solar wind, and the presence of abundant short-lived nuclides and interlinked chemical and isotopic heterogeneities in the early solar system might also be explained if the Sun formed in this manner.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Second Department

Mathematics and Statistics

Sponsor(s)

Foundation for Chemical Research

Keywords and Phrases

Electric Charge; Fusion Reactions; Nuclear Explosions; Potential Energy; Protons; Solar Energy; Nucleons; Radioisotopes; Fusion; Neutron Emission; Nucleon Interactions; Solar Energy

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0164-0313

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2000 Springer Verlag, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Mar 2000

Link to Full Text

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