silicon burning

silicon burning

[′sil·ə·kən ′bərn·iŋ] (nuclear physics) The synthesis, in stars, of elements, chiefly in the iron group, resulting from the photodisintegration of silicon-28 and other intermediate-mass nuclei; copious supplies of protons, alpha particles, and neutrons are produced, followed by the capture of these particles by other intermediate-mass nuclei.