STELLAR

NUCLEUSYNTHESIS

By: Lizette De Ocampo Razel

Sombillo
OBJECTIVES

DISCUSS THE PROCESS OF STELLAR

NUCLEUSYNTHESIS

IDENTIFY THE IMPORTANT NUCLEAR FUSION

PROCESS IN STELLAR NUCLEUSYNTHESIS

EXPLAIN THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN THE

FORMATION OF HEAVY ELEMENTS DURING THE
EVOLUTION OF STAR
LET'S PLAY A GAM E
___ T___ L___A___
STELLAR
N__CL__ __ __ YN__ H __ S__ S
NUCLEUSYNTHESIS
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STAR
A BRIEF BACKGROUND ABOUT STELLAR
EVOLUTION
WHAT EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO STARS
DEPEND ON THEIR MASSES

• A low mass star ends up as white

dwarf
• A high mass star ends up either as a
neutron star( after a supernova
explosion) or a black hole
• A star is formed when the cloud of gas and dust
collapse to the point where the material in the
center of the clump is so dense and hot that
nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei and helium
nuclei occurs.
• The outflow of energy released by these reaction
provides the pressure necessary to halt th
collapse. The pressure and gravity are in
hydrostatic equilibrium. BACK TO AGENDA PAGE
STELLAR NUCLEUSYNTHESIS

Stellar nucleusynthesis is the collective term for

the nuclear reaction taking place in star to build
the nuclear of the heavier elements.

The process to be understood early in the

twentieth century when it was first realize that the
energy released from nuclear reaction accounted
for the longevity of the sun as a source of heat and
light.
 THE IMPORTANT OF NUCLEAR FUSION PROCESS IN
STELLAR NUCLEUSYNTHESIS

•HYDROGEN BURNING : ( Proton- proton chain,

carbon cycle
• HELIUM BURNING: ( Triple alpha process)
• BURNING OH HEAVIER ELEMENTS: ( Lithium-
burning,carbon-burning , neon- burning, Oxygen -
burning,silicon- burning.)
STELLAR NUCLEUSYNTHESIS: HYDROGEN-
BURNING
The second stage involves the
This first stage begin with
CARBON CYCLE. The cycle of
the proton-proton chain
reaction results to the formation of
where hydrogen is
the helium nucleus.
converted to helium.

This is the dominant process in star

This is the dominant
more massive (1.3x) than the sun.
process in star that has a
similar mass as the sun.
 STELLAR NUCLEUSYNTHESIS: BURNING OF
HEAVIER ELEMENTS

If the star is massive (>8X solar masses) another set of nuclear fusion
reaction begins.

These include the burning of carbon neon,oxygen and silicon which

lead to the information of heavier elements until it finally produces
iron.
These are several nuclear synthetic roots and various nuclei as formed
as by products including:
. ¹³N,¹³C,¹⁴N,¹⁵O,¹⁵N,¹²C,¹⁶O,¹⁷F,⁸Be

Eventually the temperature in the stellar interior increases and

more nucleusynthetic pathways become available producing
. ²⁰ Ne,²³Na,²³Mg,²⁴Mg,²⁸Si,³¹P,³¹S , ³²S
and all the way up to ⁵⁶Fe
ACTIVITY
1. is the collective term for the
nuclear reaction taking place in star
to build the nuclear of the heavier
element
2. A star accumulate more mass
and continue to grow into red super
giant.
3. It is a process that it happens in red
giant star when they leave
the stage of main sequence star
4. This first stage begin with the
proton-proton chain where
hydrogen is converted to helium.
5. It is formed when the cloud of gas
and dust collapse to the point where
the material in the center of the
clump is so dense and hot that nuclear
fusion of hydrogen nuclei and
helium nuclei occurs.
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