1. Heavy Elements in Stars.
- Author
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Boothroyd, Arnold I.
- Subjects
- *
HEAVY elements , *STELLAR collisions , *NUCLEAR reactions , *NUCLEAR physics , *NUCLEAR energy , *ISOTOPES , *ATOMS , *NEUTRONS , *RADIOACTIVE substances - Abstract
The article presents information on the presence of heavy elements in stars. The heavy elements produced in stars are four to eight times the mass of the Sun. The mass of elements indicates a different nuclear reaction mechanism than in lower-mass stars. Nuclear reactions that take place in stars are capable of producing elements up through iron, but most heavier elements result from a series of neutron absorption reaction. These reactions are interspersed with radioactive decays of unstable neutron-rich isotopes. Neutron reactions are considered crucial to heavy-element production in stars.
- Published
- 2006
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