Dependence of the interaction potential and fusion cross-section on temperature

Abstract

The theory of nuclear fusion of two heavy ions is considered. This fusion process is one of the most dissipative processes since the two ions combine together forming a single excited systems. The fusion process occurs when the system is trapped into a pocket of the potential energy surfaces. The interaction potential is calculated making use of the Thomas-Fermi model. The calculated interaction potential helps in reproducing the fusion barrier by introducing the energy density formalism. Neglecting the temperature, previous calculations show that the fusion of two heavy ions cannot occur ifZ ₁ Z ₂≥2500. In the present work, the effects of including the temperature in the interaction potential and on the fusion cross-section are investigated for several two heavy ions using a modified Thomas-Fermi model. In the present calculations, taking the temperature into account, the fusion process of two heavy nuclei is found to occur for all values ofZ ₁ Z ₂ to 3000. This result is a generalized modifled result for the previously obtained condition. Simple static calculations of the fusion cross-sections are performed using hot potentials. The present calculations show that the barrier of the fusion cross-section is not sensitive at low bombarding energies; while at higher bombarding energies, the inclusion of the temperature increases the fusion cross-section.