Abstract

Energy release by the evaporation of neutrons from nuclei in red giants with degenerate neutron cores is analyzed. Stellar contraction resulting from accretion onto a neutron star is examined, and thermonuclear fusion leading to the formation of magnesium is considered. It is shown that evaporation of neutrons initially transforms 1.927 MeV/n of energy into heat. The total energy released in a subsequent chain of thermonuclear and pycnonuclear reactions is estimated to be 3.32 MeV/n, which is comparable to the energy of magnesium synthesis.

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