American researchers discovered the secret of the formation of heavy elements in stars

Researchers at the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States have taken an important step towards understanding the process of formation of heavy elements by carefully studying nuclear reactions in the heart of stars. This new discovery has revealed a secret that had occupied the minds of scientists for years.

According to Tekna Technology Media Astronomy News Service, stars are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium light elements. But in the depths of these heavenly bodies, a process called nucleation occurs, during which heavier elements are produced. This process is complex and dependent on specific physical conditions that were not fully understood until now.

One of the most important nucleation processes is neutron absorption. In this process, atomic nuclei become heavier elements by absorbing neutrons. The three main processes of neutron absorption include the s process (slow), the r process (fast) and the i process (intermediate), each of which occurs under certain conditions and leads to the production of different elements. Process i is of particular importance because it occurs in environments with moderate neutron densities and is responsible for the production of elements such as lanthanum and barium, which are seen in growing white dwarfs.

In this study, the researchers focused specifically on the nuclear reaction that leads to the production of lanthanum. By precisely measuring the rate of this reaction, they have set new limits for the neutron density required in process i and have also confirmed that rapidly accreting white dwarfs are the perfect place for this process to occur. The findings of this research will help scientists to improve their models to predict where and how process i occurs in stars and achieve a better understanding of the origin of heavy elements in the universe.