Where are elements heavier than iron synthesized during the explosion of a supermassive star?
Answer
During the supernova explosion via rapid neutron capture, known as the r-process.
While the star diligently creates elements up to iron through standard fusion layers, the creation of elements heavier than iron requires an immense influx of energy and free neutrons, conditions only met during the catastrophic explosion phase. The text explicitly identifies this creation mechanism as rapid neutron capture, or the r-process, which occurs as the powerful supernova shockwave blasts the stellar material outward. This process is vital as it seeds the interstellar medium with the heaviest elements necessary for forming subsequent generations of stars and planets.
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