Astrophysically important nuclear reactions

✍ Scribed by K. Langanke; H. Feldmeier; G. Martínez-Pinedo; T. Neff

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 633 KB
• Volume: 59
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6410
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ppnp.2006.12.010

✦ Synopsis

Nuclear fusion reactions generate the energies by which stars stabilize during their long lives in hydrostatic equilibrium. In late-stage stellar evolution and during core collapse of massive stars nuclear reactions mediated by the weak force are essential. Finally, a large network of nuclear reactions is operational during explosive nucleosynthesis in the aftermath of a supernova explosion.