Shell burning
scope note: Nuclear fusion in shell
contributor: AAS Frey.Katie
broader: Circumstellar shells
definition: The nuclear reactions in a shell around a star's core that continue after the fuel in the core itself has been exhausted. As the fuel is progressively exhausted, the shell moves outward until it enters regions too cool for the reactions to continue. For example, after the exhaustion of hydrogen in the core, helium burning might take place in the core with a shell of hydrogen burning surrounding it. Stars may have more than one region of shell burning during their stellar evolution, each shell with its own nuclear reactions.
modified: 2020-11-17T20:47:35.339Z
modified: 2020-11-17T20:47:25.334Z
type: Concept

Circumstellar shells
type: Concept
narrower: Shell burning