Here's the breakdown:
* The Triple-Alpha Process: This is the primary process of helium fusion. Three helium nuclei (alpha particles) collide to form a carbon nucleus. This process is known as the "triple-alpha process" because it requires three alpha particles.
* Energy Release: This fusion reaction releases a tremendous amount of energy, which is why stars like our sun can shine for billions of years.
The reaction can be summarized as follows:
3⁴He → ¹²C + γ (gamma ray)
It's important to note that this process requires very high temperatures (around 100 million Kelvin) and pressures found in the cores of stars.
