In stellar interiors, three helium nuclei can combine to form a carbon nucleus through the so-called triple-alpha process.
(a) Write the nuclear equation representing the formation of 612C from three 24He nuclei.
(b) Using m(24He)=4.002603u, m(612C)=12.000000u and 1u=931.5MeV/c2, compute the total energy released in the overall reaction.
(c) Find the energy released per nucleon and compare it with the maximum binding energy per nucleon of about 8.75MeV.
(d) Explain in two points why this reaction proceeds only at the extremely high core temperatures found in certain stars.