Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Diogo Rocha on 12/01/2011 20:30:03

Title: Can extremely high pressure cause a nuclear reaction?
Post by: Diogo Rocha on 12/01/2011 20:30:03

Diogo Rocha  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello,

I'd like to know if hypothetically it could be possible to cause a nuclear reaction by applying an uniform extremely high pressure at a confined amount of common material, like for example: 1 kg of water.

Thank you very much.

What do you think?

Title: Can extremely high pressure cause a nuclear reaction?
Post by: yor_on on 13/01/2011 00:58:01

Sure, it should, after all the idea of the Big bang is one 'spot' exploding/radiating and faster than light too. But to get to that state you will have to apply a very strong force and it would express itself as radiation. If it would be a nuclear explosion? More like a radiation to me.

That they call it incompressible is just a matter of the forces we use down here.
==
Ah well, they are very alike nuclear explosions and radiations isn't they. It's all in the timing :)

Title: Can extremely high pressure cause a nuclear reaction?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 13/01/2011 18:00:15

Yes you could but you would need the pressures and as a result of this the temperatures that exist in the centre of the sun.

Title: Can extremely high pressure cause a nuclear reaction?
Post by: syhprum on 13/01/2011 20:56:49

I believe there are experiments going on compressing small Gold samples with the aid of large lasers to produce nuclear fusion supposedly for peaceful purposes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Facility