h a l f b a k e r y
See website for details.
idea:
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random
meta:
news, help, about, links, report a problem
account:
Browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
or Create a new account.
|
|
|
Fusion Enzyme?
Could Tunneling features of enzymes be applied to fusion? | |
It was recently reported that enzymes assist chemical reactions by helping electron bonds "tunnel" through the barriers to the reaction.
I then read about ITER, and in doing some reading saw that fusion can happen as atoms tunnel through the charge barriers.. SO
would it be possible to use some
intermediary chemical to provide tunneling like an enzyme? Would that be what cold fusion was supposed to be? It was supposed to surmount the fusion barrier by providing a tunnel.
Just a thought.
Muon-catalyzed fusion
http://en.wikipedia...on-catalyzed_fusion
[vaccumac, Nov 22 2006]
ITER
http://www.iter.org/
I was stunned when I learned fusion power had become possible. [jmvw, Nov 22 2006]
[link]
|
| |
We're talking orders of magnitude here. Enzymes might be able to assist catalysing chemical reactions that take place in the outermost shell of electrons. Fusion requires getting two positively charged nuclei *very* close together in order for the weak nuclear (go on, correct me, I only *think* it's the weak nuclear force, can't remember that well) force to take over and cause fusion. That's why you need immense pressures and/or rediculous temperatures. The activation energy is immense to bring the nuclei into close enough proximity. I can't imagine any chemical reaction being able to supply enough impetus. |
|
| |
I'm really not a cold fusion beleiver, I think the physics is all wrong. Then again I'm happy to leave the nuclear physics to the nuclear physicists. |
|
| |
I think that enzymes are organic compounds that act as catalysts in very strict circumstances (pressure, temperature). |
|
| |
What you are really after is a catalyst compound for the specific conditions of the cold fusion...
which I know *nothing* about - so I'll get my coat... |
|
| |
It's a good idea! However as has already been said chemical reaction just don't have enough energy to overcome the coulomb barrier. |
|
| |
However something similar was theoretically investigated. It involved the injection of muons (heavy electrons) into the plasma. When bound in an atom these exist closer to the nucleus than electrons. And allows other nuclei to more easily approach, thus aiding fusion. |
|
| |
Crossfertilization of ideas is a source of
innovation. I do not know enough
about fusion to comment on the
soundness of the idea, but it seems like
a reasonable concept to explore. |
|
| |