Silicon burning process
In astrophysics, silicon burning is a nuclear fusion reaction which occurs in stars. It only occurs at ?×108K.
28Si + 28Si → 56Ni + &gamma 56Ni → 56Fe + 2 e+ + 2 νe - at temperature above 109K -> photons become too energetic -> photodissociation or photonuclear reactions.
- production of element heavier than iron are endothermic and
- are exclusively produced by neutron capture in the violent final stage of stellar evolution (see: Supernova nucleosynthesis, r-process, s-process and p-process).
