What is the primary mechanism known for fusing helium in a star's core?
Answer
The triple-alpha process
When the core temperature climbs high enough, the primary mechanism for fusing helium is known as the triple-alpha process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary element being fused in the core for the vast majority of a star's life?What temperature threshold must the core reach for nuclear fusion to commence in a typical star like our Sun?Which fusion pathway is the dominant energy source for stars up to about 1.5 times the mass of the Sun?What components act as catalysts in the CNO cycle?What is the primary mechanism known for fusing helium in a star's core?What element is the direct product created when three helium nuclei fuse?Approximately what temperature must the core reach to begin helium fusion?Which element has the most tightly bound nucleus, halting energy release via fusion in a stable star?In massive stars, which element is the final product formed through standard core fusion stages?Where are elements heavier than iron, such as gold or uranium, forged?