How are new elements formed in nuclear fusion?

New elements are formed in nuclear fusion through the combination of lighter atomic nuclei under extremely high temperatures and pressures.

Nuclear fusion is a process that occurs when two or more atomic nuclei come together, or 'fuse', to form a single, heavier nucleus. This process is responsible for the creation of new elements, particularly those heavier than hydrogen. It's the same process that powers the sun and other stars, where hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium.

The process begins when lighter elements, typically isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium and tritium, are subjected to extremely high temperatures and pressures. These conditions are necessary to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged protons in the atomic nuclei. Once this repulsion is overcome, the strong nuclear force can pull the nuclei together, causing them to fuse.

When the nuclei fuse, they form a heavier nucleus and release a significant amount of energy. This is because the mass of the new nucleus is less than the combined mass of the original nuclei. The 'missing' mass has been converted into energy, as described by Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2. This energy is what powers the sun and other stars.

The fusion process can continue, with the newly formed elements serving as the starting point for further reactions. For example, in stars, helium nuclei can fuse to form carbon, and so on, creating heavier and heavier elements. This is known as stellar nucleosynthesis and is responsible for the creation of all naturally occurring elements heavier than helium.

In summary, nuclear fusion is a powerful process that combines lighter atomic nuclei to form heavier ones, creating new elements and releasing a significant amount of energy in the process. It's a fundamental process in the universe, responsible for the diversity of elements we see today.