rp-process

neutron stars it cannot progress beyond tellurium.^[2] The rp-process is inhibited by alpha decay, which puts an upper limit on the end point at ¹⁰⁴Te, the lightest observed alpha-decaying nuclide,^[3] and the proton drip line in light antimony isotopes. At this point, further proton captures result in prompt proton emission or alpha emission, and thus the proton flux is consumed without yielding heavier elements; this end process is known as the tin–antimony–tellurium cycle.^[4]