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Did NASA Accidentally “Nuke” Jupiter?
enterprisemission.com ^
| 2003
| Richard C. Hoagland
Posted on 04/10/2007 10:35:33 PM PDT by grundle
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To: chimera
As I recall, you get a bonus of 1 MeV when you go from odd to even numbers of nucleons in the neutron capture event. The binding energy gets you about 5 MeV, the bonus of 1 MeV going from odd to even gets you one more, for a total of 6 MeV, just the amount you need to add to the nucleus to induce the fission reaction. U238 neutron capture goes from even to odd, so you dont get the bonus. The 5 MeV you get from the binding energy isnt enough to do it for thermal neutron-induced fission. You need an incoming fast neutron (1 MeV or more) to fission the U238 nucleus. So it is a threshold reaction rather than a thermal neutron capture. Do I have the numbers right (its been awhile)Please, don't even think about a trip to Iran any time soon.
To: chimera
82
posted on
04/12/2007 8:35:27 PM PDT
by
RadioAstronomer
(Senior and Founding Member of Darwin Central)
To: RadioAstronomer
Yeah, I have those graphs. I was wondering about the 1 MeV “bonus” going from odd to even nucleon numbers. My nuclear theory is a bit rusty, but this is the number I seem to recall.
83
posted on
04/13/2007 5:18:28 AM PDT
by
chimera
To: The_Media_never_lie
Well, as a matter of fact, one of my students was thinking about “going home” (Shiraz) after he graduated. I have been trying mightily to get him to change his mind. Trouble is, where is he going to go? Jobs here in the nuclear business are pretty much forbidden for people from countries that aren’t signatories to the NPT. I’m hoping we can keep him on as a postdoc until he gets his citizenship (he is not an illegal alien).
84
posted on
04/13/2007 5:22:45 AM PDT
by
chimera
An atomic explosion on the order of the Fat Man wouldn’t (on its own) make any kind of obvious mark on the surface of Jupiter. Each of the SL-9 impacts exceeded the energy of Fat Man. But Hoaxland is always good for some laughs.
85
posted on
04/13/2007 11:00:11 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(I last updated my profile on Monday, April 2, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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