01
The triple-alpha process is the principal stellar reaction that converts helium into carbon after hydrogen fuel is depleted in a sufficiently hot core.
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02
Beryllium-8 is so unstable that ordinary sequential capture would be inefficient.
supported03
Observed red-giant and horizontal-branch populations require a helium-burning energy source, stellar models using triple-alpha reactions match these phases, and laboratory nuclear measurements identify the resonant carbon state needed for efficient production.