In significantly more massive stars, which process replaces the P-P chain as the primary source of hydrogen fusion energy?
Answer
The CNO cycle
In massive stars where core temperatures are much higher, the CNO cycle becomes the dominant energy source, utilizing carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes as temporary catalysts.
Related Questions
Which elements were formed during the initial minutes following the Big Bang?What is the dominant energy generation mechanism in the main sequence phase for stars similar in size to our Sun?In significantly more massive stars, which process replaces the P-P chain as the primary source of hydrogen fusion energy?What specific process creates carbon from helium nuclei in stars like the Sun during the red giant phase?Why does the formation of an iron ($ ext{Fe}$) core signify the end of energy generation through fusion in a star?What is the function of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes during hydrogen fusion in massive stars?Which process is responsible for creating roughly half of the elements heavier than iron, such as bismuth?In very massive stars (at least eight times the Sun's mass), what sequence of fusion follows helium burning in the core?During which catastrophic event does the rapid neutron capture process (r-process) primarily occur?How are elements synthesized in lower-mass stars, like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, returned to the interstellar medium?