On Jan 2, 2012, at 7:10 AM, Daniel Rocha wrote:
Alright, so the most probable reactions are those that minimize the
energy spent at any given time. That is, those that require the
least binding energy for the deflated proton. But, shouldn't that
mean that Ni58 is the one that gives more energy? After all the
number in bracket is the smallest energy in the bracket.
First, each reaction line on page 1 is independent of the others.
What happens to 58Ni is independent of what happens to other
isotopes, and only dependent on its abundance in the lattice.
The trapping energy only ensures that follow-on weak reactions are
feasible. Note the large energy deficits and thus trapping energy
that immediately results when one of the electrons is absorbed into a
neutron.
In any case, the bottom line is the reaction:
58Ni28 + 2 p* --> 60Ni28 + 2 v + 18.822 MeV [-0.085]
produces comparatively little enthalpy because about 18.5 MeV is
carried away by the two neutrinos. It is by far the most energetic
reaction channel compared to the alternatives:
58Ni28 + p* --> 59Cu29 # + 3.419 MeV [-4.867 MeV]
58Ni28 + 2 p* --> 56Ni28 # + 4He2 + 5.829 MeV [-10.650 MeV]
58Ni28 + 2 p* --> 60Zn30 # + 8.538 MeV [-7.941 MeV]
given the assumption that the initial intermediate nucleus was formed
by a Ni+2p* reaction.
Best regards,
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
