Proton-Proton Chain (Solar Fusion)

概要

The proton-proton chain converts four hydrogen nuclei into one helium-4 nucleus, two positrons, and two electron neutrinos in a multi-step process. This reaction powers the sun and most main-sequence stars, releasing 26.7 MeV per helium nucleus. The sun converts 600 million tonnes of hydrogen to helium every second.

参加者

日常の例

All sunlight, and therefore virtually all life on Earth, is powered by this fusion reaction occurring in the sun's core at 15 million degrees.

産業上の重要性

恒星内元素合成の理解は天体物理学の基礎であり、地上の核融合炉の設計指針にもなっている。