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The Nuclear Fusion Reactions in Stars: Lesson 1.3

1. Stellar nucleosynthesis refers to the nuclear fusion reactions in stars that form heavier elements, such as those beyond lithium. Hydrogen burning through the proton-proton chain or CNO cycle fuses hydrogen into helium, releasing energy. 2. Helium burning reactions like the triple-alpha process fuse helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen through reactions that capture alpha particles. 3. These nuclear fusion processes are responsible for the production of energy in stars and the creation of heavier elements within stars that are later dispersed into space.

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Ramzel Chrysler Asuncion
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105 views

The Nuclear Fusion Reactions in Stars: Lesson 1.3

1. Stellar nucleosynthesis refers to the nuclear fusion reactions in stars that form heavier elements, such as those beyond lithium. Hydrogen burning through the proton-proton chain or CNO cycle fuses hydrogen into helium, releasing energy. 2. Helium burning reactions like the triple-alpha process fuse helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen through reactions that capture alpha particles. 3. These nuclear fusion processes are responsible for the production of energy in stars and the creation of heavier elements within stars that are later dispersed into space.

Uploaded by

Ramzel Chrysler Asuncion
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 1.

The Nuclear Fusion


Reactions in Stars
Objective
At the end write the nuclear fusion
of the 1 reactions that take place
lesson, you in stars.
should be
able to:
Learn about It!

Stellar Nucleosynthesis
Stellar nucleosynthesis refers to the set of nuclear fusion
reactions in a star's core and overlying layers
• Responsible for the formation of elements heavier than
those formed during big bang nucleosynthesis (H, He, Li and
Be)
Learn about It!

Stellar Nucleosynthesis Theory


Arthur Eddington
• Used atomic mass measurements of F. W. Aston
• Stars get energy from the nuclear fusion of H nuclei
• Heavier elements are formed inside stars
Learn about It!

Stellar Nucleosynthesis Theory


George Gamow
• Derived the formula for mutual electrostatic repulsion
• Refers to the probability of bringing two nuclei close
enough such that their forces overcome the Coulomb
barrier
• Derived the rate at which high-temperature reactions occur
Learn about It!

Stellar Nucleosynthesis Theory


Hans Bethe
• Elucidated how energy is produced in stars via hydrogen
burning
Learn about It!

Hydrogen Burning
Hydrogen burning refers to a set of stellar reactions resulting
in the production of He-4 from H
• Responsible for producing energy in stars
• Two dominant processes
• Proton-proton chain reaction (responsible for the
formation of helium cores)
• Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) cycle
Learn about It!

Hydrogen Burning
Proton-proton chain reaction
• Chain reaction by which a star transforms H into He
• Occurs only when there is mutual electrostatic repulsion
Learn about It!

Hydrogen Burning
Proton-proton chain reaction
1. Beta-plus decay: two ps fuse to form
• a deuteron (deuterium nucleus)
• a positron (a positively-charged
electron)
• a neutrino
2. Deuterium burning: D fuses with p
to yield He-3 and γ
3. Fusion of two He-3 to form He-4 and
two H
Learn about It!

Hydrogen Burning
Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle
• Dominant source of energy in stars about 1.3 times more
massive than the sun
• Main source of He for such stars upon recycling 12C and
finishing the whole cycle
Learn about It!

Hydrogen Burning
Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle
1. Proton capture: 12C fuses with p to
form 13N and γ
2. Beta-plus decay: 13N producing 13C, a
positron and a neutrino
3. Fusion of 13C with p to yield 14N and γ
Learn about It!

Hydrogen Burning
Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle
4. Proton capture: 14N fuses with p to
form 15O and γ
5. Beta-plus decay: 15O producing 15N, a
positron and a neutrino
6. Fusion of 15N with p to yield 12C and
4
He
Learn about It!

Helium Burning
Helium burning refers to a set of stellar nuclear reactions that
uses helium to produce energy and heavier elements such as
Be, O, Ne and Fe
• Also responsible for producing energy in stars
• Two dominant processes
• Triple-alpha process
• Alpha process
Learn about It!

Helium Burning
Triple-alpha process
• Set of two-stage nuclear fusion reactions converting three
alpha particles (He-4 nuclei) into 12C
• Creates inert carbon core found in white dwarfs and larger
stars
Learn about It!

Helium Burning
Triple-alpha process
1. Two alpha particles fuse to yield 8Be
and γ
2. 8Be fuses with another alpha particle
to form 12C and γ
Learn about It!

Helium Burning
Alpha processes
• Set of nuclear reactions that convert He into heavier
elements
• The reactions consume He and ultimately ends at Fe
• 56Fe is the most stable element, having the lowest mass
to nucleon (mass number) ratio
Learn about It!

Helium Burning
Alpha processes
1. Increases the core size and density by
forming heavier elements
2. Vital in transforming main sequence
stars to supergiants
Learn about It!

Helium Burning
Alpha processes
3. Reactions capture an alpha particle
and release a γ
• 12C captures an alpha particle (4He)
to make 16O, then 16O captures an
alpha particle to produce 20Ne
Learn about It!

Helium Burning
Alpha processes
4. The process continues where the
product captures an extra alpha
particle until it produces the last atom
in the series (52Fe)
5. All atoms produced are from even-
numbered elements
Key Points

Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process by which elements


1 are formed in the cores and overlying layers of the stars
through nuclear fusion reactions.

Hydrogen burning is a set of stellar processes that


2 produce energy in the stars.

Helium burning is a set of stellar nuclear reactions that


3 uses helium to produce heavier elements such as
beryllium, oxygen, neon and iron.
Check Your Understanding

Provide the products of the following nuclear


reactions.
Challenge Yourself

How is 12C formed via the triple-alpha process?


Bibliography

Clayton, D.D. 1968. Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis. Chicago, USA: University of
Chicago Press.

Constan, Z. “Learn Nuclear Science with Marbles.” National Science Foundation 2017. Accessed July 13,
2018. http://www.jinaweb.org/outreach/marble/Marble%20Nuclei%20Project%20-%20Activities
%20Student%20Worksheet.pdf

Langer, N. “Nucleosynthesis.” Bonn University SS 2012. Accessed December 8, 2016. https:// astro.uni-
bonn.de/~nlanger/siu_web/nucscript/Nucleo.pdf

Overton, Tina, et al. 2010. Shriver and Atkins’ Inorganic Chemistry. 5th ed. London: Oxford University
Press.

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