The proton-proton reaction at high energies
Abstract
Calculations of the cross-section in center-of-mass coordinates for the proton-proton reaction at energies greater than or equal to the Coulomb barrier are presented to determine whether the reaction might be astrophysically significant or experimentally observable. It is shown that electron capture on protons is the dominant means of converting protons to neutrons at high energies (greater than 0.5 MeV) in most astrophysical situations, and that one proton-proton reaction in 200,000 years can be expected in a laboratory situation using a microampere current of 1 MeV in the center of mass.
- Publication:
-
Nuovo Cimento B Serie
- Pub Date:
- March 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF02755539
- Bibcode:
- 1975NCimB..26...94S
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics;
- High Energy Interactions;
- Proton-Proton Reactions;
- Beam Currents;
- Deuterons;
- Neutrons;
- Positrons;
- Reaction Kinetics;
- Stellar Structure;
- Temperature Effects;
- Wave Functions;
- Astrophysics