| Term: | R-process |
| Definition: |
A nucleosynthesis process in which chemical elements heavier than zinc are created through the intense bombardment of other elements by neutrons in rapid succession. The essential feature of the r-process is the release of great numbers of neutrons in a very short time (less than 100 seconds). The r-process is a 'rapid' version of the s-process, occurring in supernova core collapse and possibly when a neutron star merges with a black hole in a binary star. |