The effects of vacuum polarization on thermonuclear reaction rates

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169366· OSTI ID:6062541

Gould, R J ^[1]

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1. California Univ., La Jolla (USA)

Added to the pure Coulomb potential, the contribution from vacuum polarization increases the barrier, reducing the wave function (u) for reacting nuclei within the range of nuclear forces. The cross section and reaction rate are then reduced accordingly by a factor proportional to u squared. The effect is treated by evaluating the vacuum polarization potential as a small correction to the Coulomb term, then computing u in a WKB formulation. The calculation is done analytically employing the small r power-series expansion for the Uehling potential to express the final result in terms of convenient parameters. At a temperature of 1.4 x 10 to the 7th K the (negative) correction is 1.3 percent for the fundamental fusion process p + p yields d + e(+) + nu. 14 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6062541
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 363; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTROPHYSICS
CALCULATION METHODS
COULOMB FIELD
CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FUNCTIONS
KINETICS
NUCLEAR REACTION KINETICS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
POLARIZATION
REACTION KINETICS
SERIES EXPANSION
STARS
SYNTHESIS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
WAVE FUNCTIONS
WKB APPROXIMATION