What process is primarily responsible for synthesizing elements heavier than iron during a supernova explosion?
Answer
The r-process (rapid neutron capture)
The truly heavy elements, such as gold and uranium, are formed during supernova nucleosynthesis primarily through the r-process, which occurs when nuclei are bombarded by a massive flux of neutrons under extreme density.
Related Questions
What is the heaviest element generally created during a star's stable life cycle through normal nuclear fusion?Why does standard nuclear fusion cease to generate energy reliably beyond iron in a massive star's core?What process is primarily responsible for synthesizing elements heavier than iron during a supernova explosion?What is the principal function of the supernova shockwave concerning the newly created stellar debris?What key event causes the outward pressure supporting a massive star to vanish, leading to collapse?What product of the explosive burning phase quickly decays into cobalt and subsequently stable iron?How do astronomers typically locate and study the aftermath of a supernova explosion?What specific signature observed in X-ray spectra confirms the passage of the shock front through surrounding gas?What is the stated role of the shockwave itself in the creation of the heaviest elements like uranium?According to the text, what is the origin of elements like the calcium in our bones and iron in our blood?