Definitions for "CNO cycle"
A nuclear-fusion-reaction sequence in which hydrogen nuclei are combined to form helium nuclei, and in which other nuclei, such as isotopes of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, appear as catalysts or by-products. The CNO cycle is dominant in the cores of stars on the upper main sequence. Same as carbon cycle.
carbon-nitrogen-oxygen thermonuclear fusion process, which results in hydrogen nuclei being converted into helium nuclei plus energy with the carbon isotope 12C6 as a catalyst.
Abbreviation for "Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen cycle (or carbon-cycle)". This is a form of stellar nucleosynthesis in which hydrogen is fused into helium in main sequence stars. This cycle uses carbon-12 nuclei as a nuclear catalyst. It requires core temperatures of at least 14million K to initiate and dominates at 20 million K or greater as is found in more massive main sequence stars, those of O, B and A spectral class.