
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that carbon atoms were produced inside a supernova explosion more than ten times faster than expected. As a result of a phenomenon called triple-alpha process, carbon is an essential element for the birth of life.
Like Carl Sagan’s famous saying that we all could be stellar fragments, all the matter that formed the Earth is made inside every star, including those on it. Probably no star fragment is as important to life on Earth as the carbon produced by the triple alpha particle reaction.
In the triple alpha particle reaction, three helium4s form a new particle with x6 fused protons and x6 neutrons. It is also the most popular form of carbon atoms in the universe. There are also isotopes produced by other fusion processes, but these are only 1% of the carbon atoms on Earth.
It’s the most popular reaction that produces carbon atoms, but you need a factor that can help. As a result of analyzing the code that modeled the supernova environment with a supercomputer, the research team found that there is a possibility that there is abundance inside the supernova.
However, the findings of this study may lead to new mysteries. Until now, it was thought that the elements abundantly present in the Earth, such as ruthenium and molybdenum isotopes, are generated by the excess protons in the supernova explosion, but according to this new study, it is not generated inside the supernova, thus creating a new place and process. Need to find
The team says that no matter what happens next, the effect of the accelerated triple-alpha particle reaction in the supernova should be considered, which is an interesting puzzle. Related information can be found here .
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