Astrophysical Nuclear Reactions: from Hydrogen Burning to Supernovae Explosions

Abstract

The work reported in this dissertation will concern the study of kinetics, cycles and quantum mechanic processes of nuclear reactions involved in massive stars together with explosive nucleosynthesis phenomena having a key role in supernovae explosion. Four main fields will be explored: physics of nuclear reaction, hydrogen burning, CNO cycles and explosive supernovae phenomena. The first chapter will provide an overview of the background of the nuclear physics and of the potential approaches to the field as quantum mechanic aspects, cross section and Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. The next chapter will describe the hydrogen burning processes for stars with low mass (our sun), the CNO and hot CNO cycles involved for higher mass stars and other cycles as sodium and magnesium. The third chapter will review the helium burning process involved in Red Giants as result of the exhausted hydrogen fuel. A short overview of other helium processes will be briefly discussed. The fourth chapter will provide a summary of the accepted model of explosive burning process involved in supernovae explosion. Explosive nucleosynthesis together with heavy elements as silicon burning processes will be also described.