Nuclear photodisintegration
= Nuclear photodisintegration
{title2=$\gamma+\text{nucleus}\longrightarrow\text{lighter nuclear products}$}
= Photodisintegration
{synonym}
A sufficiently energetic photon can break up a nucleus, consuming energy for an endothermic breakup. In <neon burning> and <silicon burning>, such steps combine with captures to form a larger reaction network whose net energy balance can be positive.