In reply to Eric Walker's message of Fri, 15 Jan 2016 19:06:51 -0600: Hi, [snip] >The opinion piece says this: > >Finally, isomers play a significant role in determining the abundances of >> the elements in the universe. In hot astrophysical environments, an >> isomeric state can communicate with its ground state through thermal >> excitations. This could alter significantly the elemental abundances >> produced in nucleosynthesis. > > >Is anyone able to elaborate on what is being alluded to here? > >Eric
I would guess that in "hot astrophysical environments" occasionally sufficient energy is available to raise the metastable isotope to a higher energy level from which it can then decay rapidly. Regards, Robin van Spaandonk http://rvanspaa.freehostia.com/project.html
