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Stellar Nucleosynthesis

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Marc Cyrus Miranda
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21 views13 pages

Stellar Nucleosynthesis

Uploaded by

Marc Cyrus Miranda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 Give evidence for and

describe the formation


of heavier elements
during star formation
and evolution.
Nucleosynthesis - is the creation of new atomic nuclei, the
centers of atoms that are made up of protons and neutrons.
Isotopes - an element with the same number of protons but
different numbers of neutrons.
Supernova - is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star.
Bigbang Theory – a theory that describes how the universe
expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature.
Atomic Number - the total number of protons in the nucleus of
an atom
Atomic Mass - the total number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus of an atom
Scientists believe that the
formation of the universe
began through the explosion
of a primordial atom which
happened 13 billion years ago.
It is known as the Big Bang.
It became a theory that also
explains the continuous
expansion of the universe.
• Big bang nucleosynthesis , also known as primordial nucleosynthesis, is the process of
producing light elements during the big bang expansion. The process produces two stable isotopes
of hydrogen, two isotopes of helium, some lithium atoms and beryllium isotopes.
• The big bang model was able to explain how light elements such as hydrogen, helium, lithium and
beryllium were produced.
• No elements heavier than beryllium are formed during Big bang nucleosynthesis because of the
relatively short period of time before the temperature dropped significantly.
• At very low temperature, there is not enough energy to fuse more neutrons to existing nuclei.
• Elements heavier than beryllium were formed through stellar nucleosynthesis, the process by
which elements are formed within stars.
Hydrogen
Nebulae Protostar Main Sequence Star

Hydrogen will start combining


As a cloud collapses, it with one another when the
All stars are born contract to form a superhot temperature reached 10 000 K
from clouds of gas stellar core called protostar. in a series of proton-proton
The protostar continues to fusion reactions. These
and dust nuclear reactions increase
accumulate gas and dust
called nebulae or from the molecular cloud,
pressure and stop the
molecular contraction.
and continues to contract When the contraction stops, the
clouds that while the temperature gravitational equilibrium is
collapsed due to increases. reached, and the protostar has
gravity. become a main sequence
……low mass stars White Dwarf
Red Giant

When most of the . When most of the helium in the


hydrogen in the core is core is fused into carbon, fusion
stops and the pressure in the core A black dwarf is a
fused into helium,
stellar remnant,
fusion stops and the decreases.
Gravity again squeezes the star.
specifically a white
pressure in the core
The star’s fuel is depleted and over dwarf that has
decreases.
time, the outer material of the star cooled sufficiently
Helium is converted to is blown off into space as planetary to no longer emit
The only thing that remains is
carbon increasing the
nebula. significant heat or
the hot and inert carbon core.
star’s core density and light
The star becomes a white
temperature and dwarf.
……massive stars
1.The star goes through a
series of stages where
heavier elements are
fused in the core and in
the shells around the
core.
2.The element oxygen is
formed from carbon
fusion; neon from oxygen
fusion; magnesium from
neon fusion, silicon from
magnesium fusion and
iron from silicon fusion.
3.The star then becomes
a multiple-shell red multiple-shell red
……massive stars Supernova
Neutron
Star

Neutron star is the smallest


star formed from supernova
explosion.

multiple-shell red
giant
1.The star goes through a 1.When the core can no longer
series of stages where heavier produce energy to resist gravity, Blackhole
elements are fused in the core the star is doomed.
and in the shells around the 2.Gravity squeezes the core until
core. the star explodes and releases a
large amount of energy.
2.The element oxygen is
3.The star explosion is called
formed from carbon fusion; a supernova. Blackhole is a region in space
neon from oxygen fusion; where gravity is too strong
silicon from neon fusion; and that no matter can escape from it.

iron from silicon fusion.


3.The star then becomes
LIFE CYCLE OF LOW MASS OR AVERAGE STAR

1 NEBULA 2 PROTOSTAR 3 MAIN SEQUENCE STAR

4 RED GIANT 5 WHITE DWARF 6 BLACK DWARF


LIFE CYCLE OF MASSIVE OR GIANT STAR

1 NEBULA 2 PROTOSTAR 3 MAIN SEQUENCE STAR

Neutron
Star

6
BLACK
HOLE
MULTI SHELL RED GIANT 5 SUPERNOVA
4 SUPERGIANT
……massive stars Supernova
Neutron
Star

Neutron star is the smallest


star formed from supernova
explosion.

multiple-shell red
giant
1.The star goes through a 1.When the core can no longer
series of stages where heavier produce energy to resist gravity, Blackhole
elements are fused in the core the star is doomed.
and in the shells around the 2.Gravity squeezes the core until
core. the star explodes and releases a
large amount of energy.
2.The element oxygen is
3.The star explosion is called
formed from carbon fusion; a supernova. The explosion also Blackhole is a region in space
neon from oxygen fusion; releases massive amount of high where gravity is too strong
silicon from neon fusion; and energy neutrinos which, in turn,
that no matter can escape from it.

iron from silicon fusion. breaks nucleons and release


3.The star then becomes neutrons.

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