What fusion cycle dominates when core temperature surpasses 18 million Kelvin?

Answer

Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) cycle

When the core temperature within a star elevates beyond approximately 18 million Kelvin, the primary mechanism for fusing hydrogen into helium switches from the slower proton-proton chain reaction to the Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) cycle. The CNO cycle is a catalytic process utilizing carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms as intermediaries to facilitate the conversion of hydrogen to helium. A crucial characteristic of this cycle is its extreme sensitivity to heat; the reaction rate escalates fiercely even with minor increases in temperature, which is why massive stars relying on it produce vastly greater amounts of energy compared to Sun-like stars.

What fusion cycle dominates when core temperature surpasses 18 million Kelvin?

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