Looking for the complete fusion process inside our Sun.

In summary: The main reaction is H + H -> He2, but there are other reactions that can occur in different situations, such as He2 -> D + Positron. These reactions are also part of the H - He fusion process.There is also another process called the CNO cycle, which is responsible for a small amount of the fusion energy in the sun. This process becomes more important in stars with higher masses, such as 1.4 solar masses.In summary, the main fusion process in the sun is the proton-proton chain, with some variations depending on the situation. The CNO cycle also plays a role in producing fusion energy. You can find more information on these processes in the Wikipedia articles linked above.
  • #1
Dyatlov
25
1
Hello. I want to know the full in-detail process which happends inside our Sun's thermo-nuclear core.
As far as I know the steps in the H - He fusion process are:
1) H+H -> He2
2) He2 can rarely decay (Beta plus) into Deterium and a positron
3) If so Deterium + H -> He3
4) He3 + He3 -> He4 + 2H.
Is this the full and detailed fusion map inside a star between 0.5 and 1.4 solar masses?
Also a paper or article on this would greatly be appreciated.
Cheers!
 
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  • #2
The Wikipedia articles are pretty good. The dominant fusion process in the sun in the Proton-Proton chain, described in Wikipedia at this link. It is somewhat more complicated than you described, since there are multiple possibilities for the D and He3 to fuse. The CNO cycle, described at this link is responsible for a small amount of the fusion energy in the sun, but becomes more important at higher masses. At 1.4 solar masses, for example, the CNO process dominates.
 
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  • #3
Dyatlov said:
Hello. I want to know the full in-detail process which happends inside our Sun's thermo-nuclear core.
As far as I know the steps in the H - He fusion process are:
1) H+H -> He2
2) He2 can rarely decay (Beta plus) into Deterium and a positron
3) If so Deterium + H -> He3
4) He3 + He3 -> He4 + 2H.
Is this the full and detailed fusion map inside a star between 0.5 and 1.4 solar masses?
Also a paper or article on this would greatly be appreciated.
Cheers!

You can check out this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton–proton_chain_reaction

and the references included in it.

The proton-proton chain of reactions is a little more complicated than you describe.
 

Related to Looking for the complete fusion process inside our Sun.

What is nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion is a process in which two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.

How does nuclear fusion occur in the Sun?

In the core of the Sun, hydrogen atoms are constantly colliding and fusing together to form helium atoms. This process, known as the proton-proton chain, releases a tremendous amount of energy and is responsible for the Sun's heat and light.

What is the temperature at the core of the Sun?

The temperature at the core of the Sun is approximately 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius).

What are the main elements involved in the fusion process inside the Sun?

The main elements involved in the fusion process inside the Sun are hydrogen and helium. Hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium, and a small amount of helium nuclei fuse to form heavier elements like carbon and oxygen.

How long has the Sun been undergoing nuclear fusion?

The Sun has been undergoing nuclear fusion for about 4.6 billion years and is expected to continue for several billion more years.

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