Nuclear Barrier Heights As Potential Waves With Varying Heights

Because the nucleus is often vibrating the potential associated with it is a wave with varying amplitudes. If the vibrating nucleus is out of target position for much of the time as the incoming charged particle approaches it and then strikes the nucleus, the barrier height can be lower than if static thereby allowing low energy nuclear reactions to take place. Since the nucleus is in varying positions due to its vibrations the barrier height waves are variable to the incoming charged particles.