How Nature Overcomes Its Own Barriers

Shaviv, Giora

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-28385-7_8

Giora Shaviv²

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 387))

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Abstract

Figure 8.1 shows the light nuclei arranged in the $(Z,N)$ plane, where $Z$ is the number of protons and $N$ the number of neutrons. We see that there are no stable nuclei for $A=Z+N=5$ and $A=Z+N=8$. This means that hydrogen cannot fuse with helium to form any $A=5$ nucleus and helium cannot fuse with another helium to form an $A=8$ nucleus. These are the $A=5$ and 8 nuclear barriers. But we know that the nuclei heavier than helium are synthesized. So how does this come about?

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Notes

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Department of Physics, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, 32000, Haifa, Israel
Giora Shaviv

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Shaviv, G. (2012). How Nature Overcomes Its Own Barriers. In: The Synthesis of the Elements. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 387. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28385-7_8

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28385-7_8
Published: 13 April 2012
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