<P> Supernova nucleosynthesis is a theory of the production of many different chemical elements in supernova explosions , first advanced by Fred Hoyle in 1954 . The nucleosynthesis , or fusion of lighter elements into heavier ones , occurs during explosive oxygen burning and silicon burning processes . Those fusion reactions create the elements silicon , sulfur , chlorine , argon , sodium , potassium , calcium , scandium , titanium and iron peak elements : vanadium , chromium , manganese , iron , cobalt , and nickel . These are called `` primary elements '' , in that they can be fused from pure hydrogen and helium in massive stars . As a result of their ejection from supernovae , their abundances increase within the interstellar medium . Elements heavier than nickel are created primarily by a rapid capture of neutrons in a process called the r - process . However , these are much less abundant than the primary chemical elements . Other processes are thought to be responsible for some nucleosynthesis of other such heavy elements , notably , the proton capture process known as the rp - process and a photodisintegration process known as the gamma ( or p ) process . The latter synthesizes the lightest , most neutron - poor , isotopes of the heavy elements . </P>
<P> Supernova nucleosynthesis is a theory of the production of many different chemical elements in supernova explosions , first advanced by Fred Hoyle in 1954 . The nucleosynthesis , or fusion of lighter elements into heavier ones , occurs during explosive oxygen burning and silicon burning processes . Those fusion reactions create the elements silicon , sulfur , chlorine , argon , sodium , potassium , calcium , scandium , titanium and iron peak elements : vanadium , chromium , manganese , iron , cobalt , and nickel . These are called `` primary elements '' , in that they can be fused from pure hydrogen and helium in massive stars . As a result of their ejection from supernovae , their abundances increase within the interstellar medium . Elements heavier than nickel are created primarily by a rapid capture of neutrons in a process called the r - process . However , these are much less abundant than the primary chemical elements . Other processes are thought to be responsible for some nucleosynthesis of other such heavy elements , notably , the proton capture process known as the rp - process and a photodisintegration process known as the gamma ( or p ) process . The latter synthesizes the lightest , most neutron - poor , isotopes of the heavy elements . </P>
how does a supernova produce elements heavier than iron
how does a supernova produce elements heavier than iron
nucleosynthesis
nucleosynthesis