An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

In → nucleosynthesis models, the condition in which all nuclear species are in equilibrium under exchange of → protons and → neutrons. Matter in nuclear statistical equilibrium is characterized by a large abundance of iron peak nuclei.

In such equilibria abundance of each nuclide can be calculated from
repeated application of → <i><a class="linkVoir" href="/terms/saha-equation/">Saha equation</a></i>.

See also: → nuclear; → statistical; → equilibrium.