Physics

Problem

Two deuterium nuclei are required to approach each other to a centre-to-centre separation of

2.0\,\text{fm}

for fusion to occur. Take

e = 1.6\times10^{-19}\,\text{C}

k_e = 9.0\times10^{9}\,\text{N m}^2\text{/C}^2

and

k_B = 1.38\times10^{-23}\,\text{J K}^{-1}

. Estimate the minimum temperature (in kelvin) that the deuterium gas must reach so that the average thermal energy per nucleus is comparable to the electrostatic energy at this separation.

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