Plasmatic Ionization in Stellar Nucleosynthesis

In summary, Noah, a med student with an interest in physics and astronomy, asks about the extreme ionization involved in stellar nucleosynthesis and its effect on fusion reactions. The response is that deep inside the sun, all electrons are stripped, particularly for light elements. This also applies to higher mass element burning and doesn't affect fusion, as it is a pure nuclear process. The required mechanism for fusion can be thermal or zero-point motion, but at cold and dense environments, it is debatable if it can be considered a plasma.
  • #1
leprechaunne
2
0
So, I'm not a student in physics. Or astronomy. I'm actually a med student, just fairly curious.
In stellar nucleosynthesis, plasma is required to fuse the particles from my understanding. In trying to record all the various reactions (PP Chain, Triple α Process, CNO Cycle), but I can't find how extreme this ionization is. Does it strip only the outer shell? Or are all of the electrons removed to allow fusion?
Thanks,
Noah
 
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  • #2
Deep inside the sun all electrons are stripped, particularly for light elements involved in fusion.
 
  • #3
mathman said:
Deep inside the sun all electrons are stripped, particularly for light elements involved in fusion.

Thanks! This implies answers to other questions I had too :) So does this apply to higher mass element burning as well? I mean, when lithium burns in brown dwarfs, the Li nucleus is free of electrons?
 
  • #4
The core of the sun has a temperature of about 15 million K, which corresponds to an energy of about 1 keV. That is sufficient to ionize all light atoms. Stars that fuse heavier nuclei have an even higher temperature. In addition, the density is so high regular orbits (like for free atoms) wouldn't fit anyway.

Not that it would matter - fusion is a pure nuclear process, and the nuclei don't care about the electrons (apart from the pep reaction of course).
 
  • #5
leprechaunne said:
In stellar nucleosynthesis, plasma is required to fuse the particles from my understanding. In trying to record all the various reactions (PP Chain, Triple α Process, CNO Cycle), but I can't find how extreme this ionization is. Does it strip only the outer shell? Or are all of the electrons removed to allow fusion?
Thanks,
Noah

Plasma is not required.
What is needed is some mechanism to allow the nuclei to meet each other in spite of Coulomb repulsion.

This can be either thermal movement, or zero-point motion, or both.

The matter is that sufficient thermal movement to allow nuclei to meet tends to excite electrons so much that they are not bound to and much concentrated around nuclei.

But is cold and dense environment which is dense enough for appreciable pycnonuclear reactions a "plasma"?
 

What is plasmatic ionization in stellar nucleosynthesis?

Plasmatic ionization is the process in which atoms are stripped of their electrons in a high-energy plasma state, typically found in the core of stars. This process is a key step in the fusion reactions that power stars and create new elements.

How does plasmatic ionization contribute to stellar nucleosynthesis?

Plasmatic ionization is necessary for fusion reactions to occur, which are responsible for the creation of new elements in stars. As atoms are stripped of their electrons, they become positively charged and are able to overcome their natural repulsion and fuse together, releasing energy in the process.

What are the factors that affect plasmatic ionization in stellar nucleosynthesis?

The degree of plasmatic ionization in a star depends on factors such as temperature, pressure, and density of the plasma. Higher temperatures and pressures lead to higher levels of ionization, allowing for more efficient fusion reactions and heavier elements to be produced.

What role does plasmatic ionization play in the life cycle of a star?

Plasmatic ionization is a key process in the life cycle of a star. It powers the star through fusion reactions, which release energy and prevent the star from collapsing under its own gravity. As the star evolves, the level of plasmatic ionization may change, leading to different types of fusion reactions and the formation of new elements.

How do scientists study plasmatic ionization in stellar nucleosynthesis?

Scientists use a combination of observational data, theoretical models, and laboratory experiments to study plasmatic ionization in stellar nucleosynthesis. This includes analyzing the chemical composition of stars, simulating high-energy plasma conditions in the lab, and developing sophisticated computer models to understand the complex processes involved.

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