Triple Alpha Process (Helium Burning)

概要

Three helium-4 nuclei fuse to form carbon-12 in stars through the triple-alpha process, which occurs above 100 million K. Two helium nuclei first form unstable beryllium-8, which immediately captures a third helium to form carbon-12 via the Hoyle state resonance. Fred Hoyle predicted this resonance to explain carbon abundance.

参加者

日常の例

All the carbon in your body, in every living thing, and in diamonds was forged inside stars by this triple-alpha process.

産業上の重要性

恒星内元素合成の理解は元素の宇宙存在度を説明し、核天体物理学の研究を導く。