Consider
the D−T reaction (deuterium−tritium fusion)
(a)
Calculate the energy released in MeV
in this reaction from the data:
=
2.014102 u
=
3.016049 u
(b)Consider
the radius of both deuterium and tritium to be approximately 2.0 fm.
What is the kinetic energy needed to overcome the coulomb repulsion
between the two nuclei? To what temperature must the gas be heated to
initiate the reaction? (Hint: Kinetic energy required for one fusion
event =average thermal kinetic energy available with the interacting
particles = 2(3kT/2);
k =
Boltzman’s constant, T =
absolute temperature.)