The core is the innermost layer of the sun, and the hottest. It is where nuclear fusion occurs, and where much of hydrostatic equilibrium is maintained. While proton-proton fusion is the dominant source of energy in our sun, in stars with over 1.3 solar masses, the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle is hypothesized to be dominant.
| Temperature | Size in sun | Density | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 million kelvin | .2-.25 solar radii | 150g/cm^3 | Plasma |
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