Can We Detect Uranium and Thorium Fusion in Stars Through Spectral Analysis?

[dangerbird]

If elements like uranium and thorium in fact did form the same way helium and carbon-iron do, which is through fusion. would we be able to know? Is there a way to tell if those elements are forming through fusion in the cores of stars? Like would it be possible to analyze the light coming from stars and determine whether not uranium/thorium fusion takes place

thanks

 

[DaveC426913]

If elements like uranium and thorium in fact did form the same way helium and carbon-iron do, which is through fusion. would we be able to know? Is there a way to tell if those elements are forming through fusion in the cores of stars? Like would it be possible to analyze the light coming from stars and determine whether not uranium/thorium fusion takes place

thanks

Well, I don't believe we have any alternate hypothesis about how heavy elements form. If not in stars, then where?

 

[vibjwb]

Supernova
This information may be helpful
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n1_v133/ai_6284551/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova_nucleosynthesis

 

[DaveC426913]

Supernova

Yes. I wasn't making a distinction about how stars do it, just that it's stars. That was misleading.