The chemical evolution of the universe is dictated by nucleosynthesis processes in multiple generations of stars as the cauldrons of the cosmos. The first generation of stars burn on the ashes of the Big Bang, the primordial abundances of hydrogen, helium and a bit of lithium. The chemical analysis of the eldest observed stars, however shows a pronounced abundance distribution between carbon, oxygen to to calcium. The reaction chains bridging the mass gap of instability at A=5 and A=8 isotopes, rely on the alpha cluster configuration of light nuclei. These first steps in the chemical evolution of the universe will be discussed on the basis of new experimental data, which provide new insight in the complex and highly dynamic nucleosynthesis environment of first stars.

First steps in the chemical evolution of the universe

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.