The Quest for the Origin of the Elements

Various topics pertaining to the question of the origin of the heavier elements from the viewpoint of nuclear astrophysics are covered. The major themes include: (1) early research and attempts of synthesizing all elements and the problem of the atomic mass gaps at 5 and 8; (2) the conversion of laboratory cross sections into stellar reaction rates and elimination of the Gamow penetration factor; (3) hydrogen burning in main-sequence stars, including the proton-proton (pp) chain and the CNO cycle. The problem of the discrepancy between the expected solar neutrino radiation and the number detected by a neutrino telescope in South Dakota is also covered. The synthesis of C-13 and O-16 and neutron production in helium burning, carbon, neon, oxygen and silicone burning, as applied to stars massive enough so that electron degeneracy can not terminate further nuclear evolution and astrophysical weak interaction rates are discussed. Finally, isotopic anomalies in meteorites and evidence for ongoing nucleosynthesis, observational evidence for nucleosynthesis in supernovae, neutron-capture processes in nucleosynthesis and nucleocosmochronology are studied.