3 ms·

So Boron 11 + neutron = Boron 12, or Carbon 12??? No it produces three alpha particles, isn’t this fission? I like the idea of this, but I’m still trying to u

So Boron 11 + neutron = Boron 12, or Carbon 12??? No it produces three alpha particles, isn’t this fission? I like the idea of this, but I’m still trying to understand how it can be called fusion. I’m not being pedantic, I’m assuming there’s a really good reason for this, I might have missed it when I was in nuclear physics lectures. But fusion is energy positive up to iron, wouldn’t fission be energy negative up to iron too?

zeristor 4y ago
Having prompted to ask the question, I was then promoted to look for an answer, and it seems that someone has taken the time to write a pretty good answer: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/578164/why-is-hydrogen-boron-called-a-fusion-reaction https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/578164/why-is-hy...