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Chapter 9 The Main Sequence. Four fundamental forces of nature. Hydrostatic equilibrium: negative feedback loop. If core T drops, fusion rate drops, core contracts heats up. If core heats up, fusion rate rises core expands cools down.
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Chapter 9 The Main Sequence
Hydrostatic equilibrium: negative feedback loop • If core T drops, • fusion rate drops, • core contracts • heats up • If core heats up, • fusion rate rises • core expands • cools down
Main sequence stars are modeled as concentric spherical shells in hydrostatic equilibrium Mass element dm Constant density Inward force = outward force
Binding energy holds a nucleus together:BE = total mass of each individual nucleon - mass of nucleus
The Coulomb barrier: 1 in 1085 particles has the energy to cross it
Wave function Probability distribution
Gamow Peak: energy region where the reaction is more likely to take place Can’t tunnel through Coulomb barrier Few particles
Solar neutrino problem: Early searches for solar neutrinos only found ~1/3 the expected number of neutrinos
Solar neutrino problem: Early searches for solar neutrinos only found ~1/3 the expected number of neutrinos Neutrinos apparently can change form. According to nuclear physics theory, this means they must have mass! “flavor oscillation”
Super-Kamiokande in Japan. • 1 km underground (in a mine) • 11,000 light-detectors in/around a pool of water • Neutrino can (rarely) interact with a proton • A particle is produced that moves faster than the speed of light in water • Causes an optical “sonic boom”