Overall, I get that these are the 2 sets of nuclear fusion reactions that convert Hydrogen to helium.
I was reading about CNO-cycle on wikipedia and it said "In the CNO cycle, four protons fuse, using carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotopes as a catalyst, to produce one alpha particle, two positrons and two electron neutrinos."
What does it mean they use carbon nitrogen and oxygen isotopes as catalysts?
Also is says: "The positrons will almost instantly annihilate with electrons, releasing energy in the form of gamma rays."
What electrons??? What electrons do the positrons annihilate with?
"The carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes are in effect one nucleus that goes through a number of transformations in an endless loop."
dont understand that at all......
And can someone please explain to me the Proton-proton chain process clearly?
I was reading about CNO-cycle on wikipedia and it said "In the CNO cycle, four protons fuse, using carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotopes as a catalyst, to produce one alpha particle, two positrons and two electron neutrinos."
What does it mean they use carbon nitrogen and oxygen isotopes as catalysts?
Also is says: "The positrons will almost instantly annihilate with electrons, releasing energy in the form of gamma rays."
What electrons??? What electrons do the positrons annihilate with?
"The carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes are in effect one nucleus that goes through a number of transformations in an endless loop."
dont understand that at all......
And can someone please explain to me the Proton-proton chain process clearly?