Nuclear fusion to make gold (6 of 6 images). Comp- uter simulation of the fusion of lanthanum & copper nuclei to make gold. Each type of nucleus has a

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Nuclear fusion to make gold (6 of 6 images). Comp- uter simulation of the fusion of lanthanum & copper nuclei to make gold. Each type of nucleus has a specific number of positively-charged particles (protons). Gold has 79 protons, lanthanum 57 & copper 29. The lanthanum and copper collided and fused together to make a radon nucleus (86 protons). The radon nucleus was unstable and has split up (fissioned) to form various fragments. One of these fragments may be a gold nucleus. Image produced at the Large Heavy Ion Accelerator (GANIL) facility, Caen, France. (See also images A130/019 to A130/023).

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Size: 5696px × 3863px
Photo credit: © PHILIPPE PLAILLY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: collision, copper-lanthanum, fusion, ganil, gold, lanthanum-copper, nuclear, nuclei, particle, physics, production, reaction, simulation