Which primary nuclear reaction pathway is used by smaller stars like our Sun to fuse hydrogen into helium?
Answer
Proton-Proton (P-P) Chain
The specific method a star uses to convert hydrogen into helium depends directly on its mass, which dictates its core temperature. For smaller stars, including our Sun, which have less extreme core conditions, the primary energy generation mechanism is the Proton-Proton (P-P) Chain. This multi-step process fuses individual hydrogen nuclei, or protons, together under less intense conditions until they form a stable helium nucleus ($^4 ext{He}$). This pathway is described as being relatively slow and efficient, suitable for the cooler, less-dense cores found in Sun-like stars.
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