= Silicon burning
{title2=silicon-group nuclei $\longrightarrow$ iron-group nuclei}
At very high temperatures, <photodisintegration> and proton, neutron and alpha captures rearrange silicon-group material through networks approaching quasi-statistical equilibrium. The result is an iron-group mixture determined by electron fraction and weak-reaction timescales. Direct silicon-plus-silicon fusion is not the usual mechanism. The approach to maximal <nuclear binding energy> per nucleon ends sustained hydrostatic fusion power.
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