Interactive Tool

Coulomb
Barrier
Calculator

We're gonna build a wall. A BIG, beautiful Coulomb barrier. And the protons are gonna pay for it. Believe me.

Enter Your Projectile + Target

e.g. 1 for p, 2 for d
+
e.g. 20 for Ca
mass number
+
mass number

Famous Reactions (Click to Load)

The Formula

The Coulomb barrier height in the center of mass is given by:

V_C = Z1 * Z2 * e^2 / (r0 * (A1^{1/3} + A2^{1/3}))

Where e^2 = 1.44 MeV fm (the fine structure constant times hbar c), and r0 = 1.2 fm (nuclear radius parameter). This is the classical point-Coulomb estimate at the nuclear surface. Real barriers include nuclear attraction and are typically 5-10% lower.

Now Go Do Some
Real Physics

You know the barrier. You know the energy. Now pick a reaction, open the LLM, and get to work. The textbook is waiting for you, folks.

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