Isotope geochemistry can be used for geochronology, understanding solar system and continent evolution, tracing the history of life, unraveling climate history, and determining the origin of mineral and energy resources. The history of isotope geochemistry began with the discovery of radioactivity and production of the first radiometric age for the Earth. Isotopes have differing numbers of neutrons. Nuclear stability depends on the balance of nuclear forces. Radioactive decay follows exponential laws. Isotope ratios are altered by geological processes and can be used to study earth systems. Stable and radioactive isotopes are produced via stellar nucleosynthesis during the lives of stars and their deaths as supernovae.
Astronomy- State of the art is a course covering the hottest topics in astronomy. In this section, the exotic end states of stars are discussed, including pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes.
Materials Required· Computer and internet access· Textbook· AbramMartino96
Materials Required
· Computer and internet access
· Textbook
· Scientific calculator
· Spreadsheet software like Excel
· Digital camera
· Printer or drawing software
· Save this worksheet and use it as your report template
Time Required: Between 3-3.5 hours, note that depending if you use Excel (or similar), your time will be shortened.
Introduction
Figure 1: JP Stellar Revolution
The life cycle of the stars is one of the most fascinating studies of astronomy.Stars are the building blocks of galaxies and by looking at their age, composition and distribution we can learn a great deal about the dynamics and evolution of that galaxy. Stars manufacture the heavier elements including carbon, nitrogen and oxygen which in turn will determine the characteristics of the planetary systems that form around them. It is the mass of the star which will determine its life cycle and this all depends on the amount of matter that is available in its nebula. Each star will begin with a limited amount of hydrogen in their cores. This lifespan is proportional to (f M) / (L), where f is the fraction of the total mass of the star, M, available for nuclear burning in the core and L is the average luminosity of the star during its main sequence lifetime. The larger the mass, the shorter the lifespan ending in a beautiful supernova, the smaller the mass, the longer the lifespan ending as a quiet brown dwarf (Fig. 1).
Main Sequence Stars
Figure 2: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/
For this lab we will focus on stars similar to our own Sun (up to 1.4MassSun ), main sequence stars. A star that is similar in size to our Sun will take approximately 50 million years to mature from the beginning of their collapse to becoming an “adult” star. Our Sun, after reaching this mature phase, will stay on the main sequence of the HR-diagram for approximately 10 billion years (Fig. 2). Stars like our Sun are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen forming into helium at their cores. It is this outflow of energy that provides the outward pressure necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight. And in turn, this energy determines the luminosity of the stars.
Death of Our Sun
Figure 3. NGC 6543
When a low mass star like our Sun has exhausted its supply of hydrogen in its core, then there will no longer be a source of heat to support the core against the pull of gravity. Hydrogen will continue to burn in a shell around the core and the star will evolve into the phase of a red giant, growing in diameter. The core of the star will collapse under the pull of gravity until it reaches a high enough density, and it will begin to burn helium and make carbon. This phase will last about 100 million years eventually exhausting the helium and then becoming a red supergiant, growing more in diameter. This is a more brief phase and last only a few tens of thousands of years and the star loses mass by expelling a strong wind. The star eventually loses the mass in its envelope, leav ...
Materials Required· Computer and internet access· Textbook· AbramMartino96
Materials Required
· Computer and internet access
· Textbook
· Scientific calculator
· Spreadsheet software like Excel
· Digital camera
· Printer or drawing software
· Save this worksheet and use it as your report template
Time Required: Between 3-3.5 hours, note that depending if you use Excel (or similar), your time will be shortened.
Introduction
Figure 1: JP Stellar Revolution
The life cycle of the stars is one of the most fascinating studies of astronomy.Stars are the building blocks of galaxies and by looking at their age, composition and distribution we can learn a great deal about the dynamics and evolution of that galaxy. Stars manufacture the heavier elements including carbon, nitrogen and oxygen which in turn will determine the characteristics of the planetary systems that form around them. It is the mass of the star which will determine its life cycle and this all depends on the amount of matter that is available in its nebula. Each star will begin with a limited amount of hydrogen in their cores. This lifespan is proportional to (f M) / (L), where f is the fraction of the total mass of the star, M, available for nuclear burning in the core and L is the average luminosity of the star during its main sequence lifetime. The larger the mass, the shorter the lifespan ending in a beautiful supernova, the smaller the mass, the longer the lifespan ending as a quiet brown dwarf (Fig. 1).
Main Sequence Stars
Figure 2: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/
For this lab we will focus on stars similar to our own Sun (up to 1.4MassSun ), main sequence stars. A star that is similar in size to our Sun will take approximately 50 million years to mature from the beginning of their collapse to becoming an “adult” star. Our Sun, after reaching this mature phase, will stay on the main sequence of the HR-diagram for approximately 10 billion years (Fig. 2). Stars like our Sun are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen forming into helium at their cores. It is this outflow of energy that provides the outward pressure necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight. And in turn, this energy determines the luminosity of the stars.
Death of Our Sun
Figure 3. NGC 6543
When a low mass star like our Sun has exhausted its supply of hydrogen in its core, then there will no longer be a source of heat to support the core against the pull of gravity. Hydrogen will continue to burn in a shell around the core and the star will evolve into the phase of a red giant, growing in diameter. The core of the star will collapse under the pull of gravity until it reaches a high enough density, and it will begin to burn helium and make carbon. This phase will last about 100 million years eventually exhausting the helium and then becoming a red supergiant, growing more in diameter. This is a more brief phase and last only a few tens of thousands of years and the star loses mass by expelling a strong wind. The star eventually loses the mass in its envelope, leav ...
Norman John Brodeur worked at MIT’s instrumentation lab which later became Draper Labs. My responsibility was instrumentation and guidance systems for the Apollo command module and the lunar module. Previous to that I worked for Avco-Everett Research Lab in Everett. There we focused on testing materials for the vehicle’s heat shield. I was doing heat studies of various materials and what we eventually developed would just burn off and the heat with it.
The Fundamentals of Chemistry is an introduction to the Periodic Table, stoichiometry, chemical states, chemical equilibria, acid & base, oxidation & reduction reactions, chemical kinetics, inorganic nomenclature, and chemical bonding.
This pdf is written to describe structure of atom for school students of grades 9 to 10. In this the basics of atomic structure has been described. Starting from Dalton's atomic model to Rutherford's scatering of alpha particles, JJ Thomson and Bohr's models with photos.
Students can download and use it for studying atomic structure.
Astronomy- State of the art is a course covering the hottest topics in astronomy. In this section, the exotic end states of stars are discussed, including pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes.
Materials Required· Computer and internet access· Textbook· AbramMartino96
Materials Required
· Computer and internet access
· Textbook
· Scientific calculator
· Spreadsheet software like Excel
· Digital camera
· Printer or drawing software
· Save this worksheet and use it as your report template
Time Required: Between 3-3.5 hours, note that depending if you use Excel (or similar), your time will be shortened.
Introduction
Figure 1: JP Stellar Revolution
The life cycle of the stars is one of the most fascinating studies of astronomy.Stars are the building blocks of galaxies and by looking at their age, composition and distribution we can learn a great deal about the dynamics and evolution of that galaxy. Stars manufacture the heavier elements including carbon, nitrogen and oxygen which in turn will determine the characteristics of the planetary systems that form around them. It is the mass of the star which will determine its life cycle and this all depends on the amount of matter that is available in its nebula. Each star will begin with a limited amount of hydrogen in their cores. This lifespan is proportional to (f M) / (L), where f is the fraction of the total mass of the star, M, available for nuclear burning in the core and L is the average luminosity of the star during its main sequence lifetime. The larger the mass, the shorter the lifespan ending in a beautiful supernova, the smaller the mass, the longer the lifespan ending as a quiet brown dwarf (Fig. 1).
Main Sequence Stars
Figure 2: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/
For this lab we will focus on stars similar to our own Sun (up to 1.4MassSun ), main sequence stars. A star that is similar in size to our Sun will take approximately 50 million years to mature from the beginning of their collapse to becoming an “adult” star. Our Sun, after reaching this mature phase, will stay on the main sequence of the HR-diagram for approximately 10 billion years (Fig. 2). Stars like our Sun are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen forming into helium at their cores. It is this outflow of energy that provides the outward pressure necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight. And in turn, this energy determines the luminosity of the stars.
Death of Our Sun
Figure 3. NGC 6543
When a low mass star like our Sun has exhausted its supply of hydrogen in its core, then there will no longer be a source of heat to support the core against the pull of gravity. Hydrogen will continue to burn in a shell around the core and the star will evolve into the phase of a red giant, growing in diameter. The core of the star will collapse under the pull of gravity until it reaches a high enough density, and it will begin to burn helium and make carbon. This phase will last about 100 million years eventually exhausting the helium and then becoming a red supergiant, growing more in diameter. This is a more brief phase and last only a few tens of thousands of years and the star loses mass by expelling a strong wind. The star eventually loses the mass in its envelope, leav ...
Materials Required· Computer and internet access· Textbook· AbramMartino96
Materials Required
· Computer and internet access
· Textbook
· Scientific calculator
· Spreadsheet software like Excel
· Digital camera
· Printer or drawing software
· Save this worksheet and use it as your report template
Time Required: Between 3-3.5 hours, note that depending if you use Excel (or similar), your time will be shortened.
Introduction
Figure 1: JP Stellar Revolution
The life cycle of the stars is one of the most fascinating studies of astronomy.Stars are the building blocks of galaxies and by looking at their age, composition and distribution we can learn a great deal about the dynamics and evolution of that galaxy. Stars manufacture the heavier elements including carbon, nitrogen and oxygen which in turn will determine the characteristics of the planetary systems that form around them. It is the mass of the star which will determine its life cycle and this all depends on the amount of matter that is available in its nebula. Each star will begin with a limited amount of hydrogen in their cores. This lifespan is proportional to (f M) / (L), where f is the fraction of the total mass of the star, M, available for nuclear burning in the core and L is the average luminosity of the star during its main sequence lifetime. The larger the mass, the shorter the lifespan ending in a beautiful supernova, the smaller the mass, the longer the lifespan ending as a quiet brown dwarf (Fig. 1).
Main Sequence Stars
Figure 2: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/
For this lab we will focus on stars similar to our own Sun (up to 1.4MassSun ), main sequence stars. A star that is similar in size to our Sun will take approximately 50 million years to mature from the beginning of their collapse to becoming an “adult” star. Our Sun, after reaching this mature phase, will stay on the main sequence of the HR-diagram for approximately 10 billion years (Fig. 2). Stars like our Sun are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen forming into helium at their cores. It is this outflow of energy that provides the outward pressure necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight. And in turn, this energy determines the luminosity of the stars.
Death of Our Sun
Figure 3. NGC 6543
When a low mass star like our Sun has exhausted its supply of hydrogen in its core, then there will no longer be a source of heat to support the core against the pull of gravity. Hydrogen will continue to burn in a shell around the core and the star will evolve into the phase of a red giant, growing in diameter. The core of the star will collapse under the pull of gravity until it reaches a high enough density, and it will begin to burn helium and make carbon. This phase will last about 100 million years eventually exhausting the helium and then becoming a red supergiant, growing more in diameter. This is a more brief phase and last only a few tens of thousands of years and the star loses mass by expelling a strong wind. The star eventually loses the mass in its envelope, leav ...
Norman John Brodeur worked at MIT’s instrumentation lab which later became Draper Labs. My responsibility was instrumentation and guidance systems for the Apollo command module and the lunar module. Previous to that I worked for Avco-Everett Research Lab in Everett. There we focused on testing materials for the vehicle’s heat shield. I was doing heat studies of various materials and what we eventually developed would just burn off and the heat with it.
The Fundamentals of Chemistry is an introduction to the Periodic Table, stoichiometry, chemical states, chemical equilibria, acid & base, oxidation & reduction reactions, chemical kinetics, inorganic nomenclature, and chemical bonding.
This pdf is written to describe structure of atom for school students of grades 9 to 10. In this the basics of atomic structure has been described. Starting from Dalton's atomic model to Rutherford's scatering of alpha particles, JJ Thomson and Bohr's models with photos.
Students can download and use it for studying atomic structure.
Willie Nelson Net Worth: A Journey Through Music, Movies, and Business Venturesgreendigital
Willie Nelson is a name that resonates within the world of music and entertainment. Known for his unique voice, and masterful guitar skills. and an extraordinary career spanning several decades. Nelson has become a legend in the country music scene. But, his influence extends far beyond the realm of music. with ventures in acting, writing, activism, and business. This comprehensive article delves into Willie Nelson net worth. exploring the various facets of his career that have contributed to his large fortune.
Follow us on: Pinterest
Introduction
Willie Nelson net worth is a testament to his enduring influence and success in many fields. Born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. Nelson's journey from a humble beginning to becoming one of the most iconic figures in American music is nothing short of inspirational. His net worth, which estimated to be around $25 million as of 2024. reflects a career that is as diverse as it is prolific.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Humble Origins
Willie Hugh Nelson was born during the Great Depression. a time of significant economic hardship in the United States. Raised by his grandparents. Nelson found solace and inspiration in music from an early age. His grandmother taught him to play the guitar. setting the stage for what would become an illustrious career.
First Steps in Music
Nelson's initial foray into the music industry was fraught with challenges. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his dreams, but success did not come . Working as a songwriter, Nelson penned hits for other artists. which helped him gain a foothold in the competitive music scene. His songwriting skills contributed to his early earnings. laying the foundation for his net worth.
Rise to Stardom
Breakthrough Albums
The 1970s marked a turning point in Willie Nelson's career. His albums "Shotgun Willie" (1973), "Red Headed Stranger" (1975). and "Stardust" (1978) received critical acclaim and commercial success. These albums not only solidified his position in the country music genre. but also introduced his music to a broader audience. The success of these albums played a crucial role in boosting Willie Nelson net worth.
Iconic Songs
Willie Nelson net worth is also attributed to his extensive catalog of hit songs. Tracks like "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," "On the Road Again," and "Always on My Mind" have become timeless classics. These songs have not only earned Nelson large royalties but have also ensured his continued relevance in the music industry.
Acting and Film Career
Hollywood Ventures
In addition to his music career, Willie Nelson has also made a mark in Hollywood. His distinctive personality and on-screen presence have landed him roles in several films and television shows. Notable appearances include roles in "The Electric Horseman" (1979), "Honeysuckle Rose" (1980), and "Barbarosa" (1982). These acting gigs have added a significant amount to Willie Nelson net worth.
Television Appearances
Nelson's char
WRI’s brand new “Food Service Playbook for Promoting Sustainable Food Choices” gives food service operators the very latest strategies for creating dining environments that empower consumers to choose sustainable, plant-rich dishes. This research builds off our first guide for food service, now with industry experience and insights from nearly 350 academic trials.
Natural farming @ Dr. Siddhartha S. Jena.pptxsidjena70
A brief about organic farming/ Natural farming/ Zero budget natural farming/ Subash Palekar Natural farming which keeps us and environment safe and healthy. Next gen Agricultural practices of chemical free farming.
"Understanding the Carbon Cycle: Processes, Human Impacts, and Strategies for...MMariSelvam4
The carbon cycle is a critical component of Earth's environmental system, governing the movement and transformation of carbon through various reservoirs, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. This complex cycle involves several key processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and carbon sequestration, each contributing to the regulation of carbon levels on the planet.
Human activities, particularly fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, have significantly altered the natural carbon cycle, leading to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and driving climate change. Understanding the intricacies of the carbon cycle is essential for assessing the impacts of these changes and developing effective mitigation strategies.
By studying the carbon cycle, scientists can identify carbon sources and sinks, measure carbon fluxes, and predict future trends. This knowledge is crucial for crafting policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, enhancing carbon storage, and promoting sustainable practices. The carbon cycle's interplay with climate systems, ecosystems, and human activities underscores its importance in maintaining a stable and healthy planet.
In-depth exploration of the carbon cycle reveals the delicate balance required to sustain life and the urgent need to address anthropogenic influences. Through research, education, and policy, we can work towards restoring equilibrium in the carbon cycle and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT GREEN WASHING IS!.pdfJulietMogola
Many companies today use green washing to lure the public into thinking they are conserving the environment but in real sense they are doing more harm. There have been such several cases from very big companies here in Kenya and also globally. This ranges from various sectors from manufacturing and goes to consumer products. Educating people on greenwashing will enable people to make better choices based on their analysis and not on what they see on marketing sites.
2. Isotope Geochemistry
Some things we can do with it
Geochronology: Putting a time scale on Earth history
Understanding the formation of the solar system planets
Tracing the evolution of continents
Tracing the history of life
Unraveling climate history
Including paleotemperatures
Origin of mineral and energy resources
including temperatures of ore-forming fluids
3. History
History of isotope geochemistry
begins with Bacquerel’s discovery
of radioactivity.
Within a decade, Bertram
Boltwood of Yale produced the
first ‘radiometric’ age, showing the
Earth was far older than physicists
had thought.
A few years later, J. J. Thompson
showed the existence of isotopes
(of neon).
Harold Urey developed a
quantitative theory of isotope
fractionation in 1947.
Henri Bacquerel
4. Protons, Neutrons, and Nuclei
Constituents of Atoms:
proton: 1.007276467 u = 1.67262178 × 10-27 kg = 938.2720 MeV/c2
neutron 1.008664916 u
electron 0.0005485799 u = 9.10938291 x 10-31 kg = 0.5109989 MeV/c2
Definitions
N: the number of neutrons
Z: the number of protons (same as atomic number since the number of protons
dictates the chemical properties of the atom)
A: Mass number (N + Z)
M: Atomic Mass, I: Neutron excess number (I = N – Z)
Isotopes have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons
Isobars have the same mass number (N + Z), but N and Z are different
Isotones have the same number of neutrons but different number of protons.
6. Forces of Nature
Strong nuclear force: 1
Electromagnetic 10−2
Weak nuclear force 10−5
gravity 10−39.
Why doesn’t the universe collapse into a single
nucleus?
7. Figure 1.2
Comparing Nuclear &
Electromagnetic Forces
V ∝1/r
V ∝exp(-r)/r
Nuclear Force, while strong, is short-ranged.
8. Binding Energy
Masses of atoms are less than the sum of the masses of
their constituents.
The missing mass is the energy binding them together,
as predicted by Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence:
E = mc2
Binding energy per nucleon:
Eb =
W - M
A
é
ë
ê
ù
û
úc2
10. Bohr’s Liquid Drop Model
According to the liquid-drop model, the total binding
energy of nucleons is influenced by four effects
a volume energy (the strong nuclear force)
a surface energy (similar to surface tension)
an excess neutron energy
a coulomb energy (proton repulsion).
B(A,I) = a1A – a2A2/3 – a3I2/4A – a4Z2/A1/3 + δ
A: nuclear mass number, I: neutron excess number (N-Z),
a1 etc., constants, δ: odd-even fudge-factor
12. Odd-Even Effects, Magic
Numbers, and Shells
Even combinations of nuclides are much more likely to
be stable than odd ones. This is the first indication that
the liquid-drop model does not provide a complete
description of nuclear stability.
Another observation not explained by the liquid-drop
model are the so-called Magic Numbers. The Magic
Numbers are 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126.
14. The Shell Model of the
Nucleus
The nucleus has shells, separate ones for protons and
neutrons.
Consequently, much of nuclear stability is governed by ‘the last
nucleon in’, much as in the electron shell model of the atom.
As in electron shells, shells accept neutrons and protons in
pairs with opposing spin, explaining odd-even effects.
Pairing – having two nucleons of opposite spin in an orbit –
increases binding energy.
Magic numbers reflect filling of shells.
These in turn reflect solutions to the Schrödinger equation
for a three-dimensional harmonic oscillator.
17. Radioactive Decay
Some combinations of protons and neutrons result in only a
metastable nucleus – one that eventually transmutes into an
other through loss (or more rarely gain) of a particle from the
nucleus.
Beta decay (emission of electron or positron)
a neutrino is also given off
Electron capture
(Some nuclei can decay in more than 1 possible way, e.g., 40K,
238U)
Alpha decay (emission of a 4He nucleus)
Fission
All of these may be accompanied by emission of a high-energy
photon (a gamma ray) as the nucleus decays from an excited
state.
18. Rate of Decay
Radioactive decay follows a first order rate law:
(first order since it depends linearly on N, number of parent atoms)
This is the basic equation of radioactive decay.
λis the decay constant, unique to each unstable nuclide, and is
truly a constant, independent of everything (almost).
Values vary of >20 orders of magnitude.
The parent is said to be radioactive, the daughter radiogenic.
dN
dt
= -lN
20. Beta decay and the neutrino
The beta particle can have a range of energies, but with a
well-defined maximum.
Seems to violate mass-energy conservation
Beta decay involves a change in nuclear spin
seems to violate momentum conservation
To solve these problems, Fermi hypothesized the existence
of an essentially undetectable additional particle, the
neutrino (ν), that carried away the excess energy and
missing spin.
The neutrino was eventually detected some 30 years later.
Measuring ‘geoneutrinos’ is helping us define the composition
and energy production of the Earth.
22. Fission
Yet another model of the nucleus
– the collective model –is
intermediate between the liquid
drop and shell models and
emphasizes collective motion of
nucleons.
These motions can result in
nuclear shape becoming so
distorted it cannot recover and
breaks into (fissions) instead.
This occurs only in the heaviest
nuclei, Th, U, and Pu. Among
naturally occurring nuclei, it is
almost exclusively 238U that
fissions.
Reactors and bombs, however,
utilized ‘induced’ fission.
25. Questions
How were the elements created? Were they
created at the same time as the universe (in the Big
Bang)?
created subsequently?
What accounts for the observed (in meteorites and the
Sun) abundance of the elements?
Abundance declines with atomic number
Odd-even effects
Some elements anomalously abundant
26. B2FH and Nucleosynthesis
Physicists sought a single
mechanism for creation of the
elements but failed to find a
suitable one.
Burbidge, Burbidge, Fowler and
Hoyle (1957) proposed the
elements were created in 4
ways/environments:
Cosmological nucleosynthesis:
creation in the Big Bang
Stellar nucleosynthesis: synthesis
of elements by fusion in stars
Explosive nucleosynthesis:
synthesis of elements by neutron
and proton capture reactions in
supernovae
Galactic nucleosynthesis:
synthesis of elements by cosmic
ray spallation reactions
Margaret Burbidge
27. Cosmological Nucleosynthesis
Immediately after the Big Bang, the universe was too
hot for any matter to exist.
But within a microsecond or so, it had cooled to 1011 K
so that matter began to condense.
At first electrons, positrons, and neutrinos dominated,
but as the universe cooled and expanded, protons and
neutrons became more abundant. These existed in an
equilibrium dictated by the following reactions:
1H + e– ⇄ n + ν
n + e+ ⇄ 1H + ν
As temperatures cooled through 1010 K, the reactions
above progressively favored protons (1H). In less than
two seconds things had cooled enough so that these
reactions ceased, freezing in a 6 to 1 ratio of protons to
neutrons.
It took another 100 seconds for the universe to cool to
109 K, which is cool enough for 2H to form:
1H + 1n ⇋ 2H + γ
Subsequent reactions produced 3He, 4He and a wee bit
of Li.
Within 20 minutes or so, the universe cooled below 3 x
108 K and nuclear reactions were no longer possible.
Some 380,000 years later, the universe had cooled to
about 3000 K, cool enough for electrons to be bound to
nuclei, forming atoms.
29. Stellar Nucleosynthesis
When density of a forming star reaches 6 g/cm and T reached 10 to 20 million
K, hydrogen burning, or the pp process, can begin which involves reactions
such as:
1H + 1H → 2H + β+ + ν
2H + 1H → 3He + γ
3He + 3He → 4He + 21H + γ
CNO cycle: carbon acts a nuclear catalyst to also synthesize 4He from 1H
12C(p,γ) 13N(β++,γ) 13C(p, γ) 14N(p, γ) 15O(β+,ν) 15N(p,α) 12C
limited to larger Pop. I stars
These are the sources of energy sustaining main sequence stars.
Little synthesis beyond He; some minor production/consumption of light nuclides,
particularly in the CNO cycle.
31. Stellar Nucleosynthesis in Red Giants
Once the H is exhausted in the stellar core the interior collapses,
raising T and P.
The exterior expands and cools. This is the red giant phase.
When T reaches 108 K and density reaches 104 g/cc in the He
core), He burning begins:
4He + 4He → 8Be + γ
8Be + 4He → 12C + γ
Because the t1/2 of 8Be is only 10-16 sec, 3He must collide
effectively simultaneously, which is why pressure must be so high.
He burning also produces some O, 20Ne and 24Mg but Li, Be, and
B are skipped: they are not synthesized, rather they are consumed
in stars.
Once He is consumed in the core, low mass stars such as the
Sun cannot reach T and P for heavier fusion reactions and they
end their lives as white dwarfs.
Stars bigger than about 4 M☼ undergo further collapse and the
initiation of carbon burning when temperatures reach 600 million
K and densities 5 x 105 g/cc.
For stars more massive than 11 M☼, about 1% of all stars,
evolution now proceeds at an exponentially increasing pace as
successive fusion reactions at higher T and P.
Evolution of a 25 solar mass
star.
32. s-process
Red giant nucleosynthesis also
produces some free neutrons in
reactions such as:
13C + 4He –> 16O + n
22Ne + 4He –> 25Mg + n
These neutrons can then be
captured by other nuclei in the
slow neutron capture (s) process.
Because the neutron flux is low, a
capture will occur only every few
decades, so that gaps in nuclear
stability cannot be bridged as the
newly created unstable isotope
will decay before a second
neutron is captured.
Wikipedia
33. The e-process
As the finale approaches, the star has become a cosmic onion of
sorts, with layers of heavier and heavier elements.
A new core consisting mainly of 28Si has been created.
At temperatures near 109 K and densities above 107 g/cc a
process known as silicon burning, or the e-process (for
equilibrium).
This process is really a variety of reactions that can be
summarized as the photonuclear rearrangement of a gas
originally consisting of 28Si nuclei into one which consists
mainly of 56Ni, which then decays with a half-life of 6 days
to 56Fe, the most stable of all nuclei.
The e-process includes reactions such as:
28Si + γ ⇄ 24Ne + 4He
28Si + 4He ⇄ 32S + γ
32S + 4He ⇄ 36Ar + γ
While these reactions can proceed in either direction, there
is a tendency for the build-up of heavier nuclei with masses
32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, and 56, Partly as a result of the e-
process, these nuclei are unusually abundant in nature. A
variety of minor nuclei are produced as well.
This continues for a few days at most. Finally, the inner core
has been converted completely to 56Ni and 56Fe, the latter
the most stable of all nuclei. Exogenic fusion reactions are
no longer possible.
Figure 1.13
34. Supernovae
Once the star’s core is converted
to Fe, it can no longer resist
gravitational collapse and does so
at velocities of 25% of the speed
of light. Matter is consequently
compressed into neutrons. There
is a nearly instant rebound that
blows the star apart.
The enormous flux of neutrons
created are rapidly captured by
surviving nuclei in the rapid
neutron capture (r) process.
The extreme pressures and
energies also result in proton
capture (p-process), but it is
nonetheless less important than
neutron capture.
Chandra X-ray image of the
supernova remnant Cassiopeia A
35. Fun Facts about Supernovae
Supernovae can have several
causes. We are mainly
interested in Type II.
Most of the energy released in
a supernova is carried away
by neutrinos.
Something like 10% of the
star’s mass is converted to
energy.
A supernova produces enough
light to outshine an entire
galaxy for weeks or months.
Galaxy NGC 2770 NASA
image
39. Galactic Nucleosynthesis
Except for production of 7Li in the Big
Bang, Li, Be, and B are not produced in
any of the above situations.
One clue to the creation of these
elements is their abundance in galactic
cosmic rays: they are overabundant by a
factor of 106.
They are believed to be formed by
interactions of cosmic rays with
interstellar gas and dust, primarily
reactions of 1H and 4He with carbon,
nitrogen, and oxygen nuclei.
These reactions occur at high energies
(higher than the Big Bang and stellar
interiors), but at low temperatures where
the Li, B and Be can survive.