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Radioactive decay modes always release energy;
but why can't nuclear fusion of light elements be a mode of radioactive decay?
I guess because although such processes are exothermic, we need an inaccessible fairly high amount of energy to overcome the electrostatic repulsion barrier.
But now, I'm facing two more challenging questions:
What exactly is the universally agreed upon definition of radioactive decay?
If nuclear fusion is not a decay mode because we need energy as input for such processes, don't we also need energy for splitting a nucleus in [fission] decay modes? (Like SF, CD, α, p.)
[Note for mentors: These are not my OP questions, they're only some of my questions by which it is better to start discussion. I'll ask the rest during the discussion ]
Edition: fusion is a decay? what a silly idea I had!
I guess because although such processes are exothermic, we need an inaccessible fairly high amount of energy to overcome the electrostatic repulsion barrier.
But now, I'm facing two more challenging questions:
What exactly is the universally agreed upon definition of radioactive decay?
[Note for mentors: These are not my OP questions, they're only some of my questions by which it is better to start discussion. I'll ask the rest during the discussion ]
Edition: fusion is a decay? what a silly idea I had!
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