FORMATION OF

HEAVIER ELEMENTS IN
THE EVOLUTION OF
THE UNIVERSE
Just a few seconds after the big
explosion or the big bang, unimaginably
high density matter and radiant energy
filled the entire universe.

As the universe expanded, matter and

radiation cooled. Radiation filled the
entire universe and it continues to fill
the entire universe in its expansion.
HOW WERE THE ELEMENTS IN
THE UNIVERSE FORMED?
• A few seconds after the Big Bang, protons, neutrons and electrons
consisted in the universe.
• The elements of the present universe were formed in the process also
known as NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
• The first step in the Big Bang nucleosynthesis involved building up of
complex atoms through the formation of deuterium nuclei or deuterons.
• Deuterons are combination of a proton and neutron.
F
• Deuteron has a binding energy of 2.2 MeV. (amount of energy of a gamma
ray)
• To break up a deuteron nuclei apart into its components
F
.
 THE ORIGIN OF LIGHT ELEMENTS

1. Big Bang or Primordial Nucleosynthesis – Origin of the “light”

elements

2. Stellar Nucleosynthesis – Origin and production of the “heavy”

elements
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

- Is the process that creates new atomic nucleus

from pre existing nucleons, which is proton and
neutrons.
 BIG BANG OR PRIMORDIAL
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

- Refers to the process of producing the “light

elements” after the Big Bang
 The energy and the temperature of the universe
are extremely high to cause the neutrons and
protons to combine and form certain species in a
process called nuclear fusion.
PROTON NEUTRON
S S
 The isotopes produced during the Big Bang
nucleosynthesis were H1, H2, H3, H4, L7.
 THE ORIGIN OF THE HEAVIER
ELEMENTS

• Heavy elements were formed only billions of years after the

formation of stars.
• The density inside a star is great enough to sustain fusion for
extended time periods required to synthesize heavy elements.
• Stars are hot dense enough to burn the hydrogen1 to helium4.
• The formation of heavy elements by fusion of lighter nuclei in the
interior of stars is called Stellar Nucleosynthesis.
 FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS
AFTER THE BIG BANG

• After the decoupling of matter and radiation, matter was subject only to
gravitational force.
• Matter consist of Helium and Hydrogen.
• In the simple helium fusion reaction
4He + 4He → 8Be
• Layers near core of stars have very high temperatures enough to
nucleosynthesis heavy elements such as silicon and iron

• Elements heavier than iron cannot be formed through fusion as

tremendous amounts of energy.

• Heavy elements are formed in a SUPERNOVA which is a massive

explosion of a star.
Thank you