What does supernova produce, helium or carbon?
Multiple Post. Please refer to your later post, which I saw first.
Sra
IT produced neutrons in a neutron star, or a black hole.
Supernovas produce and eject carbon and heavier elements, in a violent explosion. The remainder becomes a neutron star as protons and electrons are crushed together to form neutrons.
Normal "main sequence" stars produce mostly helium. When the hydrogen is gone at the stellar interior, helium is converted to atoms as heavy as oxygen, including carbon.
A supernova can produce both helium and carbon, along with many other elements. However, the specific elements produced in a supernova depend on the mass of the star that is undergoing the explosion.
When a massive star reaches the end of its life cycle and exhausts its nuclear fuel, it undergoes a catastrophic explosion known as a supernova. During this explosive event, the immense heat and pressure inside the star cause nuclear reactions to occur, leading to the synthesis of various elements.
In the core of a massive star, helium fuses together to form carbon through a process known as helium burning. This happens when the core temperature and pressure are high enough to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between helium nuclei, allowing them to collide and merge, forming carbon nuclei.
However, in even more massive stars, the fusion process can continue beyond helium burning. Carbon can further react with helium to form oxygen, and subsequently, oxygen can fuse to create heavier elements such as silicon, sulfur, and iron. Ultimately, through a series of nuclear reactions, elements up to iron can be produced during a supernova.
Therefore, while a supernova primarily produces heavier elements like carbon, it also involves the synthesis of helium and various other elements, which are crucial for the formation of new stars and planetary systems.