Fusion in the Sun: Neutrons or Neutrinos – What is Produced?

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    Fusion Sun
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the products of fusion reactions in the Sun, specifically whether neutrons or neutrinos are produced during the fusion of hydrogen into helium. Participants explore the implications of these emissions and the processes involved in stellar fusion.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether neutrons or neutrinos are produced during the Sun's fusion reactions, noting conflicting information from various sources.
  • Another participant suggests that both neutrons and neutrinos are produced, referencing an external link for further information.
  • A participant expresses confusion over the conflicting claims, highlighting that the provided link states only neutrinos are produced.
  • It is noted that helium contains neutrons, prompting further inquiry about which particles are emitted from the Sun.
  • One participant asserts that neutrinos are emitted in large quantities from the Sun, while suggesting that some nuclear processes may also produce neutrons, though the flux of neutrons is uncertain.
  • Another participant discusses the instability of isolated neutrons, suggesting they would likely decay before escaping the Sun and would not contribute significantly to emissions reaching Earth.
  • Concerns are raised about the density of hydrogen in the Sun and its effect on neutron escape, with references to neutron decay and interactions with protons in the fusion process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether neutrons or neutrinos are the primary emissions from the Sun, with multiple competing views presented regarding the production and escape of these particles.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions about the specific nuclear processes occurring in the Sun and the conditions under which neutrons may or may not escape. The discussion reflects uncertainty regarding the flux of neutrons and their interactions within the Sun.

spideyinspace
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does the fusion reaction in sun produce neutrons or neutrinos? i read websites of which one is saying neutron is produced but the other one says neutrino is produced..which one is correct..what other things would be produced when hydrogen fuses to produce helium in the core of sun?
 
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Firstly, this isn't cosmology! Secondly, in answer to your question, I'd say both are produced. Perhaps http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~soper/Light/fusion.html link will help you.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
cristo said:
Firstly, this isn't cosmology! Secondly, in answer to your question, I'd say both are produced. Perhaps http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~soper/Light/fusion.html link will help you.

i thought this would be the right place to post my doubt,if its wrong,then sorry...the link which u gave says neutrinos are produced but u said both are produced..
 
Last edited by a moderator:
spideyinspace said:
i thought this would be the right place to post my doubt,if its wrong,then sorry...the link which u gave says neutrinos are produced but u said both are produced..

Well, yes, but Helium contains neutrons, doesn't it?
 
cristo said:
Well, yes, but Helium contains neutrons, doesn't it?

what i mean is, which one is emitted from sun,neutrinos or neutrons?
 
Neutrinos are emitted from the Sun in large quantities. However there are many many different nuclear processes occurring in the Sun and I would think that at least some of these also lead to neutrons coming from the Sun, though I have no idea of the flux of them (if there is any at all).

Isolated Neutrons are unstable however, and therefore would likely decay before they get very far. Therefore I wouldn't think that there would be an appreciable amount of Neutrons emitted from the Sun that reach the Earth.
 
Because the density of hyrogen in the sun is much like that of water, few neutrons would likely escape the sun. If they didn't decay (half-life ~ 10.23 min) they are readily absorbed by protons form deuterons, and deuterons are part of the pp-chain, and p + d => He3. Since free neutrons would readily decay, if there was a large quantity leaving the sun, the we'd measure a flux of anti-neutrinos from the beta decay.
 

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