Publication | Closed Access
On the Synthesis of Elements at Very High Temperatures
786
Citations
0
References
1967
Year
The study presents a detailed calculation of element production during the early, homogeneous, isotropic expansion of the universe and in imploding‑exploding supermassive stars. It finds that the primordial fireball can produce only D, He³, He⁴, and Li⁷ in amounts matching solar abundances at 3 K and a density of 2 × 10⁻⁴ gm cm⁻³, while massive stars at 10 K can convert D and He³ into C, N, O, Ne, Mg and heavier elements, higher‑temperature bounces bridge mass gaps to produce iron‑group metals and a small r‑process, and low He⁴ abundances can arise in a universe with degenerate electron neutrinos. Published in The Astrophysical Journal (April 1967), DOI 10.1086/149126.
view Abstract Citations (829) References (41) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS On the Synthesis of Elements at Very High Temperatures Wagoner, Robert V. ; Fowler, William A. ; Hoyle, F. Abstract A detailed calculation of element production in the early stages of a homogeneous and isotropic expanding universe as well as within imploding-exploding supermassive stars has been made. If the recently measured microwave background radiation is due to primeval photons, then significant quantities of only D, He3, He4, and Li7 can be produced in the universal fireball. Reasonable agreement with solar- system abundances for these nuclei is obtained if the present temperature is 3 K and if the present density is 2 X 10-" gm cm', corresponding to a deceleration parameter qo 5 X 10-'. However, massive stars "bouncing" at temperatures 10 K can convert the universal D and He3 into C, N, 0, Ne, Mg, and some heavier elements in amounts observed in the oldest stars. The mass gaps at A = 5 and 8 are bridged by the reactions He' (He4, )Be7(He4, ) C11. Bounces at higher temperatures bridge the mass gaps through 3 He4 H C12 and mainly produce metals of the iron group, plus a small amount of heavier elements synthesized by a new kind of r-process (rapid neutron capture). It is found that very low abundances of He4, as recently observed in some stars, can be produced in a universe in which the electron neutrinos are degenerate. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: April 1967 DOI: 10.1086/149126 Bibcode: 1967ApJ...148....3W full text sources ADS |