10
Heavy
Element Fusion
•Triple Alpha process
–4He + 4He ® 8Be + g
–8Be + 4He ® 12C
+ g
•Similar type reactions create heavy elements above 600 Million K
•Plot to left gives:
–x: # of neutrons
–y: # of protons
–Right one – add neutron
–Up one – add
proton
–Diagonal – p ® n or reverse
–Jumps: add
4He or
more
From our text: Horizons, by Sees
