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ShareIn physics, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus.
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It is accompanied by the release or absorption of energy depending on the masses of the nuclei involved.
Iron and nickel nuclei have the largest binding energies per nucleon of all nuclei and therefore are the most stable.
The fusion of two nuclei lighter than iron or nickel generally releases energy while the fusion of nuclei heavier than iron or nickel absorbs energy; vice-versa for the reverse process, nuclear fission.
Nuclear fusion of light elements releases the energy that causes stars to shine and hydrogen bombs to explode.
Nuclear fusion of heavy elements (absorbing energy) occurs in the extremely high-energy conditions of supernova explosions.
Nuclear fusion in stars and supernovae is the primary process by which new natural elements are created.
It is this reaction that is harnessed in fusion power.
It takes considerable energy to force nuclei to fuse, even those of the lightest element, hydrogen.
For more information about the topic Nuclear fusion, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Stellar nucleosynthesis — Stellar nucleosynthesis is the collective term for the nuclear reactions taking place in stars to build the nuclei of the heavier elements. The ... > read more
Radioactive decay — Radioactive decay is the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei (nuclides) emit subatomic particles (radiation). Decay is said to ... > read more
Nuclear reaction — In nuclear physics, a nuclear reaction is a process in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide, to produce different products than the initial ... > read more
Proton — The proton is a subatomic particle with an electric charge of one positive fundamental unit and a mass of 938.3 MeV/c2, or about 1836 times the mass ... > read more
Big Bang nucleosynthesis — In physical cosmology, Big Bang nucleosynthesis (or primordial nucleosynthesis) refers to the production of nuclei other than H-1, the normal, light ... > read more
Gamma ray — Gamma rays are an energetic form of electromagnetic radiation produced by radioactive decay or other nuclear or subatomic processes such as ... > read more
Nuclear fission — Nuclear fission is a process in nuclear physics in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei as fission products, and ... > read more
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