The Sun is a plasma diffuser that sorts atoms by mass

Journal Article · Wed Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physics of Atomic Nuclei

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S106377880611007X· OSTI ID:21076184

Manuel, O; Kamat, S A; Mozina, M ^[1]

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1. University of Missouri (United States)

The Sun is a plasma diffuser that selectively moves light elements like H and He and the lighter isotopes of each element to its surface. The Sun formed on the collapsed core of a supernova (SN) and is composed mostly of elements made near the SN core (Fe, O, Ni, Si, and S), like the rocky planets and ordinary meteorites. Neutron emission from the central neutron star triggers a series of reactions that generate solar luminosity, solar neutrinos, solar mass fractionation, and an outpouring of hydrogen in the solar wind. Mass fractionation seems to have operated in the parent star and likely occurs in other stars as well.

• OSTI ID: 21076184
• Journal Information: Physics of Atomic Nuclei, Vol. 69, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1134/S106377880611007X; Copyright (c) 2006 Nauka/Interperiodica; Article Copyright (c) 2006 Pleiades Publishing, Inc; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7788
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATOMS
DIFFUSERS
FRACTIONATION
HELIUM
HYDROGEN
ISOTOPE SEPARATORS
ISOTOPES
LUMINOSITY
MASS
METEORITES
NEUTRON EMISSION
NEUTRON STARS
PLANETS
PLASMA
SOLAR NEUTRINOS
SOLAR WIND
SUN
SUPERNOVAE
SURFACES