What is the name for the helium fusion process occurring around 100 million Kelvin?
Answer
The triple-alpha process
The process responsible for converting helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen within the Sun's contracting core, once temperatures reach about 100 million Kelvin, is specifically termed the triple-alpha process. This reaction involves the successive fusion steps facilitated by these extreme thermal conditions. This newly ignited helium burning provides a temporary stabilization energy source for the star, causing it to shrink slightly from its maximum expanded size, although it remains significantly larger and brighter than its current main-sequence state.
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