Glossary term: 核聚变
Description: 核聚变是轻元素的原子核结合在一起形成重元素原子核的过程。
在宇宙中，核聚变扮演着两个重要角色。第一，它为太阳等恒星的辐射提供能量。当足够轻的原子核发生聚变时，产生的新原子核的总静止质量略小于初始原子核的总静止质量。这种“质量亏损”对应聚变反应所释放的能量，通过爱因斯坦著名的公式E=mc2，可以将质量m、能量E和光速c联系起来。例如，在太阳的内核中，氢核融合在一起形成氦，并以辐射和中微子粒子的形式释放能量。
核聚变的第二个作用是在宇宙中产生比氢和氦更复杂的元素。宇宙大爆炸之后，宇宙中只存在氢、氦和微量的锂核。恒星内核中、超新星爆发过程中的聚变反应以及中子星碰撞引起的爆炸，是宇宙中（基本上）所有其余较重化学元素的来源。按质量计算，构成人体最大部分的化学元素，尤其是氧和碳，都是在恒星核心或超新星爆发过程中通过核聚变形成的，因此有 "我们是星尘 "的说法。
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Term and definition status: The original definition of this term in English have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher The translation of this term and its definition is still awaiting approval
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