Helium fusion

Helium fusion is a kind of nuclear fusion, the two involved nuclei being helium.

If the core temperature of a star exceeds 100 million kelvins (100 megakelvins), as may happen in the later phase of red giants and red supergiants, then helium can fuse to form beryllium and then carbon. This process is known as the triple-alpha process.

See also

• Fusion power
• Cold fusion