What changes take place in an atom during a fusion reaction?

Question

Lincoln Adams · Accepted Answer

There are several different fusion processes each of which generates heavier elements.

Since the temperatures and pressures needed to maintain nuclear fusion are too high for any electrons to remain bound, an atom is actually an atomic nucleus with a number of bound electrons. Proton-proton fusion is the most common type of fusion found in stars like our sun. At the high temperatures and pressures found at the sun's core, two protons can approach one another to the point where the strong nuclear force overcomes their electromagnetic repulsion to form a nucleus of helium-2. Occasionally the weak nuclear force can convert a proton into a neutron, positron, and anti-neutrino, resulting in a stable Hydrogen-2 or Deuterium nucleus. Helium-2 is a highly unstable element, and most nuclei decay back into two protons. The primary reaction product, helium-4, is created when deuterium fuses with additional protons or deuterium nuclei. Helium must escape the Sun and cool down to the point where it can absorb two electrons in order to form an atom.

Michael Adkins · Answer

undefined A fusion reaction occurs when two atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus. This process releases a significant amount of energy. During a fusion reaction, an atom undergoes the following changes: it merges two atomic nuclei, forms a heavier nucleus, releases energy in the form of gamma rays and particle kinetic energy, and some mass is converted into energy in accordance with Einstein's well-known equation, E=mc^2.