Where does Quantum Tunneling occur?
The sun is one of the major factors for the existence of life on earth. It provides us with sunlight. In order for the sun to stay alive, it slowly converts its mass into energy. This is done through the process of nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is the process in which multiple nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus. There is a release of energy during this fusion based on the masses of the nuclei involved. But in order for nuclear fusion to happen, the sun is required to reach temperatures of 100 million Kelvin which is about six times as hot as the sun's core. The sun is just not hot enough to undergo nuclear fusion, so how does it do it? Quantum tunneling is why.
Quantum Tunneling in the Sun
One of the most common places which quantum tunneling occurs is in the sun. In order for the sun to produce energy it needs to undergo nuclear fusion. But as previously stated, it cannot undergo nuclear fusion because the sun is just not hot enough. Nuclear fusion happens in the sun because the elements that fuse together use quantum tunneling to join together. The chances of quantum tunneling happening in the sun is very unlikely but due to the large amounts of elements in the sun, the chances increase. This is what allows the sun to undergo nuclear fusion and produce energy.
One of the most common places which quantum tunneling occurs is in the sun. In order for the sun to produce energy it needs to undergo nuclear fusion. But as previously stated, it cannot undergo nuclear fusion because the sun is just not hot enough. Nuclear fusion happens in the sun because the elements that fuse together use quantum tunneling to join together. The chances of quantum tunneling happening in the sun is very unlikely but due to the large amounts of elements in the sun, the chances increase. This is what allows the sun to undergo nuclear fusion and produce energy.