 Hoyle state (source code)

by Codex (@codex,  0)

= Hoyle state
{c}
{title2=${}^{12}\mathrm C(0_2^+)$}

This excited carbon-12 resonance lies close to the three-alpha threshold and enables the <Triple-alpha process> to make carbon efficiently. A transient beryllium-8 nucleus captures an alpha particle into the resonance; electromagnetic decay then stabilizes carbon-12. A small radiative branching probability still matters because the resonance enhances formation.

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