High School Question about Neon-burning Process

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In the neon-burning process in stars, two Neon-20 atoms do not fuse directly into Calcium-40 due to the sequence of reactions involved. Initially, Neon-20 undergoes photodisintegration, producing Oxygen-16 and an alpha particle. Under high temperatures, the alpha particle is captured by another Neon-20 nucleus, resulting in Magnesium-24 and releasing gamma radiation. This process requires two Neon nuclei: one to provide the alpha particle and another to absorb it, rather than a direct collision of two Neons. The overall reaction yields Oxygen-16 and Magnesium-24, along with energy.
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During the neon-burning process in stars, why do two Neon-20 atoms fuse into Oxygen-16 and Magnesium-24 instead of forming Calcium-40?
 
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The 2Ne20->O16+Mg24+energy reaction is the nett result. It's actually two reactions.
First, neon is photodisintegrated into oxygen and an alpha particle:
Ne20+gamma->O16+He4
Normally the reverse reaction would occur, keeping the neon stock steady. But with sufficient temperature, alpha capture by another neon nucleus is preferred:
Ne20+He4->Mg24+gamma
So you need two neon nuclei, one to donate the alpha particle, the other to subsequently absorb it. It's not that the two neons collide, and two other nuclei pop out.

See e.g. here:
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/797/2/83
 
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Bandersnatch said:
The 2Ne20->O16+Mg24+energy reaction is the nett result. It's actually two reactions.
First, neon is photodisintegrated into oxygen and an alpha particle:
Ne20+gamma->O16+He4
Normally the reverse reaction would occur, keeping the neon stock steady. But with sufficient temperature, alpha capture by another neon nucleus is preferred:
Ne20+He4->Mg24+gamma
So you need two neon nuclei, one to donate the alpha particle, the other to subsequently absorb it. It's not that the two neons collide, and two other nuclei pop out.

See e.g. here:
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/797/2/83
Thank you very much!
 

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