• gnutrino@programming.dev
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      3 days ago

      Yes if they have enough energy (see for example https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-74045-5). What you won’t get with proton-induced fission is an explosion as the fission doesn’t emit protons which can go on to cause further fissions so there’s no chain reaction (unless you already have a critical mass for normal neutron-induced fission in which case it’s going to explode even without the protons).

    • Digit@lemmy.wtf
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      3 days ago

      Maybe need an accompanying alternative version of the cartoon, “be more neutral”.

    • Egonallanon@feddit.uk
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      3 days ago

      If you’re adding a proton wouldn’t it be fusion? Which also releases a bucket load of energy.

      • SmoothOperator@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        The largest amount of energy is released from fusing two hydrogens into helium. The atom in the comic looks much heavier than hydrogen.

        Also a chain fusion reaction is required for an explosion. The comic just shows non-explosive ionisation.

      • zxqwas@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Possibly but the common fusions are using isotopes of H, He, Li with some amount of neutrons, not naked protons.

        Heavier elements as the big blob is releases a lot less energy, and the really heavy ones are not exothermic.