What type of nuclear reaction powers our sun

They work with the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program to use scientific computing to advance fusion science as well as the Nuclear Physics program on nuclear reaction databases, generation of nuclear isotopes, and research in nucleosynthesis.

Scientific terms can be confusing. DOE Explains offers straightforward explanations of key words and concepts in fundamental science. Nuclear Fusion Reactions. But more up-to-date studies have begun to question that assumption, Serenelli says. These studies suggest that the metallicity is lower.

Neutrino production is extremely sensitive to temperature and, taken together, the various amounts of neutrinos seen by Borexino seem to be consistent with the older metallicity values — not with the new ones, Serenelli says.

As a possible explanation, he and other astrophysicists have suggested that the core has higher metallicity than the outer layers. Bellini, G. PubMed Article Google Scholar. Nature , — Download references. News 09 NOV Research Highlight 05 NOV News 04 NOV News 15 OCT All content. Course content. Week 5. About this free course 24 hours study.

Level 1: Introductory. Course rewards. Free statement of participation on completion of these courses. Badge icon Earn a free Open University digital badge if you complete this course, to display and share your achievement. Create your free OpenLearn profile. Course content Course content. Astronomy with an online telescope Start this free course now. Free course Astronomy with an online telescope. View larger image. Figure 7 The main nuclear reaction taking place in the core of the Sun.

Known as the ppI chain, the overall result of this reaction is the conversion of four hydrogen nuclei into one helium nucleus. The specific type of fusion that occurs inside of the Sun is known as proton-proton fusion. Inside the Sun, this process begins with protons which is simply a lone hydrogen nucleus and through a series of steps, these protons fuse together and are turned into helium. This fusion process occurs inside the core of the Sun, and the transformation results in a release of energy that keeps the sun hot.

The resulting energy is radiated out from the core of the Sun and moves across the solar system. The overall process of proton-proton fusion within the Sun can be broken down into several simple steps. A visual representation of this process is shown in Figure 1.