How much energy does the Helium Flash release compared to the Sun's current output?
Answer
As much energy as the current Sun generates in 200 million years
The Helium Flash represents a catastrophic, uncontrolled ignition of helium fusion within the electron-degenerate core of the star. This event releases a stupendous amount of energy in a very short timeframe. The scale of this release is monumental, equivalent to the total energy output that the modern Sun produces over a span of 200 million years. However, a significant portion of this energy is immediately expended doing the titanic work necessary to lift the degenerate core out of its compressed state, transforming it back into a normal, albeit extremely dense, gas.
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