This process is known as the triple-alpha process, which involves the fusion of three helium nuclei (alpha particles) into one carbon nucleus. This process requires very high temperatures and pressures, which are only found in the cores of stars.
The triple-alpha process is a key step in stellar nucleosynthesis, the process by which stars create heavier elements from lighter ones. The carbon produced in this process can then go on to fuse with other nuclei to form even heavier elements, such as oxygen, neon, and magnesium.
