Which fusion process does our Sun primarily utilize on the main sequence?
Answer
Proton-proton (PP) chain reaction.
Our Sun, being a star with a mass approximately equal to $1 ext{M}_{ ext{odot}}$, falls into the category of lower main sequence stars. Stars in this mass range, generally less massive than about $1.5 ext{M}_{ ext{odot}}$, generate the vast majority of their energy through the proton-proton (PP) chain reaction. This process involves successive collisions between protons, which eventually lead to the formation of helium-4 nuclei, accompanied by the release of energy, positrons, and neutrinos. While the CNO cycle is more efficient in hotter cores, the Sun's core temperature is optimized for the PP chain, which is the dominant mechanism sustaining its energy output throughout its main sequence lifetime.
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