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Lesson 1 - Formation of Heavy Elements

The document discusses the formation of heavy elements through various nuclear fusion processes that take place inside stars and during supernova explosions. It defines key terms related to stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis such as fusion, isotopes, and processes like the proton-proton chain reaction and triple alpha process that fuse hydrogen into helium. The document also explains how heavier elements are created through the alpha ladder process, the CNO cycle, and the rapid and slow neutron capture processes during supernovae.

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Eji Alcoreza
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1K views

Lesson 1 - Formation of Heavy Elements

The document discusses the formation of heavy elements through various nuclear fusion processes that take place inside stars and during supernova explosions. It defines key terms related to stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis such as fusion, isotopes, and processes like the proton-proton chain reaction and triple alpha process that fuse hydrogen into helium. The document also explains how heavier elements are created through the alpha ladder process, the CNO cycle, and the rapid and slow neutron capture processes during supernovae.

Uploaded by

Eji Alcoreza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Formation of

Heavy
Elements
Summary:
Sagan covers several topics, and focusses
mainly on the possibility of extraterrestrial
intelligence, the likelihood of the existence of
more advanced civilizations, and their
distribution in the local galaxy, and in the
universe. He describes the hypothetical opinions
of more advanced intelligences and their views
of the Earth, as well as communication with
mankind. He also discusses the popularity of
UFO sightings and attempts mathematically to
portray the probability of such events. Sagan
also discusses his view of astrology as a
pseudoscience.
Key Terms
1. Fusion
2. Isotope
3. Stellar evolution
4. Stellar nucleosynthesis
5. Supernova nucleosynthesis
6. Proton-proton chain reaction
7. Triple alpha process nucleosynthesis
8. Alpha ladder
9. CNO cycle
10. Main-sequence star
11. Red giant
12. Supernova explosion
13. Supernova
14. R-process
15. S-process
Fusion
is the combining of
nuclei to form a
bigger and heavier
nucleus.
Isotope
is a form of a chemical
element whose atomic
nucleus contains a specific
number of neutrons, in
addition to the number of
protons that uniquely
defines the element.
Stellar Evolution

is the process by which a


star changes over the
course of time.
Stellar
Nucleosynthesis
is the process by which the
natural abundances of the
chemical elements within stars
vary due to nuclear fusion
reactions in the cores and
overlying mantles of stars
Supernova
Nucleosynthesis
is a theory of the production of many different chemical
elements in supernova explosions, first advanced by Fred
Hoyle in 1954.
Proton-Proton Chain
Reaction

is one of the two (known) sets of fusion reactions by which stars


convert hydrogen to helium. It dominates in stars the size of the Sun or
smaller.
Triple alpha process
nucleosynthesis
is a set of nuclear fusion reactions by which three helium-4
nuclei (alpha particles) are transformed into carbon.
Alpha ladder/process

is one of two classes of nuclear


fusion reactions by which stars
convert helium into heavier
elements, the other being the
triple-alpha process.
CNO Cycle
• (for carbon–nitrogen–oxygen) is one of the two known sets of fusion
reactions by which stars convert hydrogen to helium.
• It is a catalytic cycle.
Main-Sequence
Star

is any star that is fusing hydrogen in its


core and has a stable balance of outward
pressure from core nuclear fusion and
gravitational forces pushing inward.
Red Giant Star
is a dying star in the last
stages of stellar evolution.
Supernova

• is the explosion of a star


• the largest explosion that
takes place in space.
R-process/ Rapid capture
neutron process
• involves rapid capture of neutrons by the atom.
• is a set of reactions in nuclear astrophysics that are responsible for the
creation (nucleosynthesis) of approximately half the atomic nuclei
heavier than iron.
S-process/ Slow neutron
capture process
• involving slow neutron capture in red giants.
• is a series of reactions in nuclear astrophysics which occur in stars,
particularly AGB stars. It is responsible for the creation (nucleosynthesis) of
approximately half the atomic nuclei heavier than iron.
THANK
S

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